India and Russia, in a move, formally inked the $ 5.2 billion deal for S-400 system in first week of October,2018. The air defence system is expected to be delivered by the year 2020. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India for the annual India Russia Summit.

PACTS SIGNED:

• PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed eight pacts.
• The two countries signed a $5 billion S-400 air defence system deal for the surface to air missile defence system.
• A crucial MoU was signed between ISRO and the Federal Space Agency of Russia on joint activities in the field of human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.
• India and Russia are also committed to fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.
• Pacts were also inked in the fields of nuke energy, railways. Both have signed a pact to develop six nuke power projects in India.

About the main attraction, The S-400s:

• The S-400 Triumf is an advanced surface-to-air missile system, developed by Russia’s state-owned company Almaz-Antey, and can shoot down hostile aircraft and ballistic missiles. It has an estimated range of 250 kilometres and a possible upgrade is speculated to extend it to 400 kilometres.
• The S-400 battery has four transporter erector launchers (TEL) which are essentially missile vehicles that can carry and launch missiles. There are four launch tubes in each TEL. The system also includes a fire control radar and a command post. This enables it to fire surface-to-air missiles and eliminate incoming missile or adversary, thus creating an air defence shield.

The Geopolitical angle:

• The S-400 is not merely military equipment for Russia but a tool for geopolitical strategy. The Russians, despite the sanctions on Almaz-Antey, are actively offering it to a number of countries, including NATO members such as Turkey, which has signed a provisional agreement to purchase it in December, despite US warnings. China has reportedly already acquired the first set of S-400 system including the command post, radar stations and launching stations.
• The S-400 may also be purchased by countries such as Algeria, Belarus, Iran and Vietnam, thus reducing the American sphere of influence. The other reason US is up in arms against the S-400 is the missile defence system's reported ability to take down American stealth fighter jets including the F-35. If Turkey were to acquire the S-400 along with the American F-35 (which it has already ordered from the US), then the exact nature of the F-35’s weakness would be apparent to them.
• The sale of S-400 system to India by the Russia is seen as a problem by the USA, which term it to be causing “interoperability” problems with India. Mac Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee of the US Congress, was fairly blunt in underscoring this during his visit to Delhi in May, 2018: "There is a lot of concern in the US in both the administration and the Congress regarding the S-400 system. And there is concern that any country… that acquires that system will complicate our ability to work out interoperability. So that is completely apart from any sanctions legislation (against Russia). I hope the (Indian) government will take its time and consider very carefully the acquiring of that system because of the difficulties it may pose for us."