Russia makes formal S-400 offer to India

[sasum]

The S-400 “Triumph" anti-missile defense systems. Source: ITAR-TASS

Russia has formally offered its S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems to India, a senior Russian defense official said on April 18.

“The Federal Service has prepared a draft intergovernmental agreement on the supply of the S-400 systems to India and passed it on to our partners, so we are awaiting a response,” Vladimir Drozhzhov, deputy head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) told TASS on the sidelines of the Defexpo India 2016 exhibition in Delhi.

The deal value is estimated to be $6 billion.

The Triumph S-400 is a new-generation medium and long-range anti-aircraft missile system.

S-400 Triumph. Source: YouTube/Телеканал Звезда

At a distance of 250 miles the system can strike planes, while at a distance of 40 miles it can hit tactical ballistic targets flying at a speed of three miles per second, as well as cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

Russia and India were expected to sign an agreement on the sale of the systems in December 2015 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow for an annual summit. Sources close to the situation tell RBTH that differences on the price held back the signing of an agreement. A deal is likely to be signed within the next few weeks, the sources add. Russia could also commence delivering the S-400 missile defense system to China by the end of the year.

The long-range S-400 surface-to-air missile systems are used to defend the Khmeimim Russian military base in Syria.



Link: https://rbth.com/news/2016/04/18/russia-makes-formal-s-400-offer-to-india_585763

Russia and India have signed an agreement for the supply of five S-400 air defense systems.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/04/breaking-india-russia-sign-s-400-air.html?m=1

 

[Screambowl]

This move gives interesting contours to the air defense ecosystem (and geopolitics) in Asia. China will fly Russian Su35 and deploy S400 air defense, India will fly Su30 and deploy S400 air defense.

Sure, Indian S400 can take out Chinese planes and vice versa, given friend-or-foe identification systems, from a purely defensive point of view, but as a corollary, the S400 negates the offensive capabilities of both India and China, relative to each other (regardless of which planes both nations are flying). In a way, this Russian master stroke of selling S400 to both India and China has deterred both from indulging in a fight with each other by almost nullifying the dividends each one receives. The only way for both nations to squeeze out the best return on investment is when China deploys its systems on the east (Pacific) and India deploys it on the west (Pakistan) instead of deploying them against each other on the India-China border. By doing so, Russia has used military diplomacy to settle the quarrel between India and China from escalating beyond a certain point. The only way for this peace to sustain is by India and China undertaking a mutually beneficial agreement disclaiming non-aggression against each other, so that each of us can concentrate against our real enemies.

It also helps Russia get out of a sticky situation of being suspected of backstabbing by both China and India every time they sell planes to each country. They can simply sell as many planes as they want to India and China without worrying of tilting the strategic balance between China and India now that Russia has supplied the tools for each nation to nullify the air superiority of the other. Therefore, the only way for China and India to use Russian toys against each other is if something goes horribly wrong and they break the mutually beneficial pact, in which case, Russia wont be responsible. This situation is unlikely. In essence, Russia was able to create a Russia-China-India air-defense alliance by getting both nations to deploy their offensive and defensive capabilities on their periphery, looking outwards, instead of deploying them against each other on the LAC. This serves the dual purpose of securing Russia's soft underbelly from a US strike, all paid for by India and China. In a single masterstroke, Russia was able to secure their strategic interests and make money out of it. Hats off.

Uncle Sam must be sweating.

better to sabotage the enemy systems before they even become operation in war ...

 

[Yumdoot]

Oh, no! The only reason their weapons are generally bigger than same class western weapons is that their technologies are not good enough to allow them to build it in small size.

Sorry but I don't need to live with a low self esteem like you.

Regards miniaturization hows a Khibiny for a Donald....sitting duck.

Western miniature systems are still to this day (well into the 21st century) best used only against Libyas and Serbias and Pakis.
Not good enough even against Vietnams and now Syrias.

As for miniaturization well lets just say its far far more important that,

A 1.37 trill USD economy with 0.14 billion people and 51 bil USD in defence budget,
have held back and ensured rationality from:
1) one 11 trill USD economy with 1.38 billion people and 215 billion USD defence budget;
2) one more 18 trill USD economy with 0.32 million people (+chamchas all over) with 600 billon USD defence budget;
3) bunch of slaves in two continents with perhaps another 15 odd trillion USD economies.

While ensuring the tech flow to :
1) one 11 trill USD economy with 1.38 billion people and 215 billion USD defence budget;
2) one more 2 trill USD economy with 1.25 billion people and 51 billion USD defence budget.

While ensuring safety for Vietnams and Syrias of the world.

I say they have done enough of heavy lifting in the world.

Peace.

 

[sorcerer]

Russia was able to create a Russia-China-India air-defense alliance by getting both nations to deploy their offensive and defensive capabilities on their periphery, looking outwards, instead of deploying them against each other on the LAC.

That was in the making for a looooooooooooooong time.....