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India and Russia signed Friday the big prize of their defense program, the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system. The $ 5.4 billion contract (39,000,000 Rupees) reaffirmed "the commitment to strengthen military technical cooperation between India and Russia, which enjoys a long tradition of trust Mutual benefits and mutual benefits, "the statement said.
This falls under the shadow of the US CAATSA (Countering America Adversaries Through Sanctions Act), in which India still has not obtained a "waiver" from President Trump. The spokesman of the US Embassy in New Delhi said: "The waiver power does not concern a general waiver, it is transaction-specific, there are strict criteria to consider a waiver. CAATSA Article 231 waivers will be considered on a transaction-by-transaction basis and we can not prejudge any decisions on sanctions. "
It is interesting to note that one of the most important agreements signed between India and Russia was not mentioned in the press statements of the two leaders. In fact, the contract was signed by the Deputy Secretary (Land Systems) and the Director General ROE (Rosoboronexport), Russia, at 11 am just before the beginning of the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin .
Government sources told India Today that the decision was made in a "national interest".
While the United States has still not announced its decision on this specific agreement, what India had explained to the United States was an "inheritance" and should remain outside the scope of sanctions. "It's a negotiation that precedes CAATSA for many years, if not tens of months," sources said.
In 2015, prior to Prime Minister Modi's visit to Moscow, Anil Ambani's Reliance Defense signed a $ 6 billion potential manufacturing and maintenance contract with Russian subsidiary Almaz-Antey. of Rosoboronexport and key manufacturer of the S-400 air defense system.
On December 24, 2015, Reliance Infrastructure Limited, in a press release entitled "DAC Approval for the Acquisition of S-400 Air Defense Missile Systems, creates a business opportunity of about $ 6 billion of dollars (40,000 crores of rupees), "said:" India Reliance Defense Limited and AlmazAntey, the leading Russian developer and manufacturer of air defense missile systems, decided to work jointly on the whole of the range of AD missile and radar systems needed by the Indian Defense Forces. "
According to the statement, the chairman of the "Reliance Group," Anil Ambani, said: "Our proposed partnership will be an important step in the strategic relationship between the two countries."
Vice-President of "AlmazAntey", MVF Medovnikov, said: "Working with Reliance Defense will help us to set new directions for both companies to meet the future needs of the Indian Armed Forces."
The major initiative of India with these huge defense partnerships is "Make In India".
"Both sides expressed their satisfaction at the significant progress made in ongoing military technical cooperation projects and acknowledged the positive shift to joint research and production of military technical equipment between the two countries. the "Make in India" policy of the Indian government, "the statement said.
SIGNED PASSES:
- Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed eight pacts.
- The two countries signed a $ 5 billion agreement on the S-400 air defense system for the ground-to-air missile defense system.
- A crucial memorandum of understanding has been signed between ISRO and the Russian Federal Space Agency concerning joint activities in the area of manned space flight program, Gaganyaan.
- India and Russia are also committed to fighting terrorism and drug trafficking.
- Pacts have also been signed in the fields of nuclear energy and railways. The two have signed a pact to develop six nuclear power projects in India.
DECISIONS TAKEN:
- India and Russia have also called on all nations to fully implement the Paris agreement on climate change while committing to promote green development and a low-carbon economy. They called on developed countries to provide financial and technological support to developing economies.
- Modi and Putin exchanged with young talents from Atal Innovation Mission and the SIRIUS Training Center in Russia.
- AIM and SIRIUS have also signed a memorandum of understanding. Modi also invited Russia to create an industrial park dedicated to defense in India.
- Both are also considering the possibility of building a gas pipeline linking Russia to India.
WHAT IS THE S-400 AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM:
- The S-400 Triumf Air Defense System can engage up to 36 targets at a time and simultaneously launch 72 missiles.
- The long and medium range air defense missile system is designed to destroy air attacks, including stealth aircraft and other air targets.
- The delivery of missile systems, estimated at more than $ 5 billion, will begin 24 months after the signing of the agreement.
- The acquisition of the missile system will help repel air attacks by Indian opponents, including Pakistan and China. The signing of the agreement is of particular importance since China has also signed an agreement with Russia.
- This is the deadliest weapon system in the world. It offers four types of layered air defense.
- The range of detection of the target is 600 km and its range of destruction tactical ballistic missiles ranges from 5 km to 60 km.
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