MOSCOW — Pakistan must acquire S-400 air defense system developed by Russiaas India has sped up efforts to acquire anti missile system from Moscow.
It has prime importance in India’s efforts to tackle possible threats fromChina and Pakistan. With S 400link> defencesystem India will acquire clear edge over Pakistan in case of any futurewar or escalation.
Long-range SAM S-400 system is our priority for which we have bet. Thatwould substantially change our posture both towards northern adversary aswell as towards western adversary,’ reads the statement put forth by theIAF before the Parliamentary panel for defense.
The parliamentary panel, on its part, has recommended that funds towardsthe procurement of S-400 systems be made during the year as per the demandby the IAF.
India and Russia have been working on the final commercial contract sinceOctober 2016, when the two sides concluded an intergovernmental agreementfor the procurement of five S-400 systems and four stealth frigates byIndia.
Defense sources told Sputnik that negotiations are at the final stage nowand the commercial contract is expected to be signed sometime soon. Thereare speculations that the Moscow visit by Defense Minister NirmalaSitharaman later this month could see the deal finally coming through.
The S-400 systems are capable of intercepting and destroying airbornethreats at a distance of up to 250 miles and can simultaneously engage upto six targets. Each S-400 comprises tracking and search radar systems,eight launchers, 112 guided missiles, and command and support vehicles.
China was the first global customer of the S-400. The world’s most potentair defense system was delivered by Moscow to Beijing last year. Russia isalso expected to begin implementing the contract on the delivery of S-400systems to Turkey in early 2020.
Meanwhile, apart from the attempt to conclude the impending S-400 airdefense system deal, Sitharaman is also expecting to move forward thediscussions on the proposed bilateral collaboration on the development of afifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA).