Russia to sign contracts with India on S-400 air defense systems, Ka-226 helicopters

NEW DELHI, October 29. /TASS/. India expects to agree contracts with Russia next month on buying advanced S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems and jointly producing Kamov Ka-226T helicopters, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said in an interview with TASS on Thursday. The sides expect to sign the documents during a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow in December, Parrikar said. The projects "may not take final shape during my visit but we’d like to prepare some of them for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia in December," Parrikar said. The Indian defense minister is heading for Moscow on Friday to take part in a bilateral inter-governmental commission for military and technical cooperation. "For example, the project for joint production of Kamov Ka-226 helicopters. I hope to use my visit to have it inked on paper when the prime minister arrives. Also the purchase of S-400 missile systems. We anticipate these projects to be coordinated by next month," he added. The Indian press reported earlier that India planned to purchase about 12 S-400 air defense missile systems immediately after China, which had signed a deal worth $3 billion in September 2014 to acquire no less than six S-400 regiments and would start receiving them from 2017. Each delivery set comprises eight launchers, a command vehicle, a radar station and a launcher-loader. The joint production of Ka-226T helicopters was approved by the Indian government’s Defense Acquisition Council in May 2015. A source close to the Indian Defense Ministry told TASS news agency at the time that Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport and Helicopters of Russia rotocraft producer could participate in the joint venture with India for the helicopter production. "Now talks are under way on the production of up to 400 helicopters during 10 years," the source said. The source declined to specify the cost of a future deal, saying "it could be discussed only after concrete accords on the joint venture are reached." The sides said during their talks at the time that Ka-226T helicopters could be subsequently exported to third countries. India’s Reliance Defense and Aerospace Company owned by billionaire Anil Ambani was mentioned as Russia’s most likely partner for the joint production of Ka-226T multi-purpose helicopters in India. India’s national aircraft-building corporation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was also mentioned as a potential partner for the helicopter production. The Ka-226T light multi-purpose helicopter was developed by Russia’s Kamov design bureau and is designed to transport up to 1 ton of cargoes and personnel to a distance of 450 km (280 miles). The S-400 Triumf is a Russian-made long-and medium-range antiaircraft missile system designed to destroy all modern and advanced aerospace targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers (248.5 miles). The Russian-Indian inter-governmental commission on military and technical will convene in Moscow on November 2. As part of his trip, the Indian defense minister also plans to visit St. Petersburg. Read more