Russia will finish delivering the S-400 Triumf (Triumph) air defence systems by next year under the USD 5.43 billion deal signed with India in 2018, a report said on Monday.
"Russia will complete the contract to supply India with five S-400 Triumph air defence systems in 2026. Four of these systems have been delivered to date, and the fifth will be delivered next year," a defence source was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency.
Earlier, reports had stated that the USD 5.43 billion (approximately Rs 40,000 crore) contract was signed on October 5, 2018, despite being at risk of US sanctions.
It was in March 2021 that US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had expressed concerns over India's proposed acquisition of the S-400, flagging that the transaction could invite sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
However, the US has not enforced CAATSA, as the S-400 agreement has yet to be fully executed. During a visit to Moscow for the V-Day parade at Red Square as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s representative, Minister of State Sanjay Seth highlighted the effectiveness of the S-400 systems during Operation Sindoor in May.
Seth pointed out that India is keen on acquiring more missile systems and is considering whether to buy more advanced S-500 missile systems.
Operation Sindoor, which was initiated on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 attack at Pahalgam, which cost 26 civilians their lives. India and Pakistan eventually came to an agreement on May 10 to call off the war after four days of heavy cross-border missile and drone attacks.
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