Is India trapped between two staunch allies, Russia and Israel? Israel has been concerned about the warming relations between Russia and India after Delhi agreed to purchase the S-400 Air Defence Systems from Moscow. As EurAsian Times reported earlier, India has also hinted to buy more weapons from Russia which Tel Aviv fears may impact Israel’s weapon sales to India.
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Off late, Israel has been supplying India with advanced weapon systems in a wide range of fields. These weapons included the Barak 8 missile developed by Israel’s IAI in collaboration with the Indian Government.
This Rusian aggression in the Indian market has been raising concerns in Israel. “The Russians are invading the Indian defence market. In the meantime, they are supplying them with air defence systems, but it will not stop there,” a senior official in the Israeli defence system said.
India and Russia have formally signed the $5.43 billion deal for the procurement of five S-400 Triumf missile defence system. India was not deterred to buy S-400 from Moscow by the US Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act or CAATSA legislation, which deals primarily with countries having “significant transactions” with Russia, North Korea or Iran.
Upgrades in arms systems “including the S-400 air and missile defence system” would be a particular focus for CAATSA, a US State Department spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI. The first complex is to be delivered to the place of service in India within 24 months after the conclusion of the contract.
