S-400 deal may be finalised by March 31

S-400 deal may be finalised by March 31

Context

India and Russia could be just weeks away from signing one of the biggest defence deals between the two sides in recent history, said two senior defence sources this week

S-400 Triumf

• The contract negotiations for the purchase of the S-400 Triumf long range air defence systems are in the final stages, and are expected to be closed by March 31
• India is planning to buy five systems that is expected to cost about Rs. 39,000 crore

What is Triumf?

• It is considered one of the most potent Surface to Air missile systems in the world
• It can track and shoot down a range of incoming airborne targets at ranges of upto 400km.
• In 2016, the two countries had concluded the Inter-Governmental Agreements for five S-400 systems and four stealth frigates after which the contract negotiations began to conclude a commercial contract.

No offset clause

Russia has already conveyed to India that the deal should not have any offset clause as it is a strategic system