India, Russia likely to sign key defence deals

Ramping up bilateral ties, India and Russia are likely to sign key defence deals worth billions of dollars on Saturday as Moscow hopes to stave off tough competition from the Americans and the Europeans to continue being New Delhi’s foremost defence supplier.

While India and Russia will sign a “complex agreement” for production of 200 Kamov 226T helicopters domestically under a nearly USD 1 billion deal to replace the country’s ageing Cheetah and Chetak choppers, a deal on naval frigates is also likely. Russian media reports have said other major deals will be signed too.

The most strategic important military deal will be the one for the supply of S-400 ‘Triumf’ long-range air defence missile systems which has the capability to destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km.