What’s expected from Putin’s India visit in December—Defence Secretary explains

ThePrint had previously reported that India & Russia are talking about 5 more regiments of the S-400, but no contracts are to be signed during the Russian president's visit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin | File Photo | Reuters

New Delhi: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said Friday that a procurement of additional S-400 Triumf air defence system cannot be ruled out, but no announcement will be made during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit.

The Ministry of External Affairs announced that Putin will be in India on a state visit from 4-5 December.

Singh said that the primary focus of the Indian defence side is to ensure that some of the delayed contracted projects are sped up and a decision is taken on the upgrade of the Su-30 MKIs.

“I don’t want to talk about specific procurement decisions. That is essential, giving a warning of what has to be made in cabinet decisions. So, I am not going to be talking about specific platforms, but we have a large defence programme with them, including existing contracts which are delayed,” he said, speaking at a defence conclave organised by news agency Asian News International (ANI).

Adding that the Russians have promised to deliver the remaining two of the five S-400 systems ordered in 2018 in the coming financial year.

“There are a bunch of programmes where there are delivery milestone delays, which we will take up with them and try to expedite those. There are other major programmes like the Sukhoi upgradation. Potentially, S-400 additional is not ruled out, but don’t expect any announcements during this meeting,’ he said.

He said that delegation-level talks between India and Russia during the Russian President’s visit will focus on broader elements of the institutional cooperation on defence between the two sides. “Will try to ensure that some of these delivery delays are ended and we get some clear answer on when some of these delayed deliveries take place.”

ThePrint had earlier reported that India and Russia are talking about five more regiments of the S-400, but no contracts are to be signed during Putin’s visit.

It has also been reported that India is yet to decide on the Su-57 fighters from Russia, which Moscow has been pushing for very strongly.

(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)