In direct threat to Pakistan, India to buy 5,000 missiles in multi billions dollars deal for deployment along Pakistani borders
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*NEW DELHI -**India to buy 5,000 missiles in multi billions dollars deal for deployment along Pakistani borders.*
India and Russia are aiming to seal a multi-billion-dollar missile deal. Russia’s IGLA-S system was chosen as the lowest bidder for India’s short-range air defence missile system (VSHORADS) programme.
The Army has an immediate requirement for 800 launchers and over 5,000 missiles.
The deal had, however, run into trouble as two other competitors – SAAB of Sweden and the European firm MBDA – officially registered complaints link against the trials that gave the Russians an edge.
These missiles are meant to counter low-flying aircraft as the last line of defence against flying objects in a multi-layered air defence system.
The procurement process for the VSHORADS began shortly after the Kargil War in 1999.
This was after two Indian aircraft — a MiG-21 and a MiG-27 — were shot down during the war by a Pakistani close-in weapon called the Anza (probably the derivative of a Chinese system).
Defence sources told ThePrint that both India and Russia are aiming to ink the deal ahead of Modi’s visit or during the trip itself.
“The issues with AK 203 will be resolved soon but not in time for Modi’s visit. The Kamov deal is still a work in progress. The only defence deal that can be completed by May is the VISHORADS,” a defence official told ThePrint.
