IAF getting ready for Russian S-400 Triumf air defence system, specialists leave for training in Moscow

A team of military specialists have left for Moscow on Jan 19, 2021 to be trained for the S-400 Triumf ‘SA-21 Growler’ air defence systems. Addressing the team of specialists, Nikolay R.Kudashev, Russian Ambassador to India noted that “The agreement on the S-400 supplies is one of the flagship initiatives of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation. It is the main pillar of the special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India.”

According to the Russian envoy, today both the countries are involved not only in jointly developing but also in the production of military equipment, components and spare parts. Both countries are also sharing technologies and Russia is working towards improving the after-sales service system for which an advanced legal base has been developed.

India-Russia Military and Military-Technical ties

Along with S-400 systems project, efforts are on towards an early implementation of AK-203 Kalashnikov contract (more than 700 thousand are to be produced under the JV Indo-Russian Rifles in India). Also, the two countries are working towards 200 Ka-226 helicopters supplies and production in India as well as an advanced cooperation in the areas of combat aviation (including Su-30MKI programme), main battle tanks (T-90), frigates, submarines and missiles, as well as the joint production of the BrahMos Missile.

In line with `Make in India’ and `Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives of the government, both countries are working towards an early implementation of the spare parts joint production agreement.

Work is also going on the mutual logistics support agreement, strengthening maritime cooperation, including in the Indian Ocean.

India-Russia Bilateral Relations

“Our relations are based on mutual trust and reflect the true spirit of our bilateral and multilateral commitments. These are in the framework of our vision towards just and equal relations based on the international law and the UN Charter,” says the Russian envoy.

Presence in Aero-India 2021

As reported earlier, Russia is expected to be one of the biggest exhibitors and has plans to demonstrate Su-57, Su-35 and MiG-35 fighter jets. There will be helicopters too — Ka-52, Ka-226, Mi-17B-5, Mi-26 as well S-400 systems and many other new items and equipment.

More about S-400 Triumf ‘SA-21 Growler’ air defence systems ‘

In August 2020, on the sidelines of the Army-2020 International Military and Technical Forum in that country, it was announced that the first regimental set of S-400 Triumf is expected to be delivered by the end of 2021.

A $ 5.43 billion contract for the S-400 Triumf ‘SA-21 Growler’ has been signed between India and Russia. The S-400 is long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and is for the Indian Air Force. The contract is for five Triumf regimental kits from Russia.

In 2019, as was reported by the Financial Express Online, the Russian officials had made it clear that the mode of payment has been formalised and it is not going to be in US dollars. The payment is most likely going to be through Rupee-Rouble currency.

The delivery is going to be staggered and is expected to be completed by 2025 and is expected to be deployed in Mumbai-Baroda Industrial Corridor, and also the National Capital Region.

Expected to give more power to the Air Defence of the IAF, the SA-21 ‘Growler’ has four different types of missiles with different ranges between 40 km, 100 km, 200-km and 400 km.

According to military experts, these will help in creating an impenetrable interlocking grid of missiles, which can be deployed in a few minutes. It is also capable of detecting and destroying low and high flying targets and is resistant to electronic jamming.