Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi Ink Much Anticipated S-400 Triumf Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian PM Narendra Modi have reportedly inked a $5 billion deal to acquire one of the most advanced air defence system, the S-400 Triumf, risking US sanctions. President Putin on his arrival was greeted by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj at the airport and welcomed by PM Modi.

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As reported by EurAsian Times earlier, the US does not want India to go ahead with the S-400 this deal with Russia. In the “two-plus-to-one” meeting in New Delhi on September 6 last month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Defense Secretary James Mattis met Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It is being said that due to this deal, there will be a threat of economic sanctions of the US on India, but New Delhi is just not relenting.

S-400: What Makes It So Special?

The S-400 is considered the most effective air defence system in the world. Russia’s official news agency Sputnik says that before President Putin’s visit to India, the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Narendra Modi approved the purchase of five S-400 air defence systems for more than $ 5 billion from Russia.

The USA passed the Countering America’s Advisers Through Securities Act (CAATSA) Act against Russia in August 2017 for alleged Russian intervention in the presidential election of 2016. This law was passed by the US to punish the Russian government. CAATSA has been effective since January 2018. India wants US exemption from this law in its relations with Russia.

This law of the United States prohibits countries who deal with arms in Russia. The US recently passed the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which gives the Trump Administration an exemption under the CAATSA to those countries whose defence relationship with Russia is very old.

S-400 is mobile and can be deployed within five to 10 minutes as soon as the order is received. The S-400 is comparable to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) of the US. The Almaz-Entente Group, which manufactures the S-400, says that the maximum range of 40N6E is 400 kilometers and it can distinguish its target at a height of 30 kilometers.