Indian MoD Approves $6 Billion Russian S-400 Missile Defense Systems Purchase

The Indian Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared the purchase of Russian S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems for an approximate $6 billion (INR 40,000 crore).

The DAC chaired by Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday cleared to buy five S-400 systems along with other buys that include six regiments of Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers for an approximate $2.1 billion (INR 14,000 crore), 571 light bullet-proof vehicles for $46 million (INR 310 crores), 120 trawls for $68 million (INR 450 crores), digitization of 24 Pechora Air Defence system for $181 million (INR 1,200 crores) and an electronic warfare system for $64 million (INR 425 crore).

S-400 is an anti-aircraft system and comes with a mobile launcher and a threat detection radar/command center. The deal also includes purchase of about 6,000 missiles from Russia.

Pinaka systems are going replace traditional artillery guns on the border. The DAC gave the Acceptance of Necessity to the Army’s proposal for procuring  Pinaka system.

Pinaka can fire within seconds a barrage of unguided rockets with a range of up to 38 km to achieve a saturation bombing effect, or what is called area destruction. This kind of weapon system is lethal for troop and armour concentrations, and is also battle-proven. Tata, Larsen and Toubro and BEML are contracted to provide the system.

The light-bullet-proof vehicles are to be used in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operation for the Army.

The trawls will be used on Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks.

Apart from the clearances, DAC also nominated Hindustan Shipyard to build five fleet support ships that was cleared in July for an approximate $1.3 billion (INR 9000 crores).

The electronic warfare systems will be developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Electronics (BEL) for the Indian Army.