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India close to sign deal to purchase Russian S-400 missile systems.
According to the Russian Press Agency TASS, India is close to sign the final deal with Russia for the purchase of S-400 surface-to-air defense missile systems, Russian Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Russian S-400 92N6E Grave Stone radar and TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) mobile unit (Picture source ModernWeapon.ru)
In May 2016, India’s Defense Acquisition Council has approved the purchase of five S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) air defense missile systems from Russia. The S-400 missile systems could be delivered to the Indian Air Force from 2018 to 2022.
The Indian defense minister praised the performance and the characteristics of the S-400 air defense missile system. According to him, "the Russian-made S-400 Triumf system is the most cutting-edge air defense system in the world. Many countries, inducing China, are seeking to purchase it".
In September 2017, the Newspaper website IndiaToday has announced that the Indian Air Force has completed the trials of the S-400 missiles. The field evaluation trials of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system have been completed by the Indian Air Force in Russia and was done successfully
A battery of S-400 air defense missile system includes a command post, radars and four surface-to-air missile systems with combat and support vehicles. Each surface-to-air missile system includes six launchers with four antiaircraft guided missiles in launch tubes, a multipurpose radar, antiaircraft guided missiles, support equipment and a transporter erector launcher.
The S-400 Triumf is a Russian-made long and medium-range air defense missile system. The system is designed to destroy current and future aircraft and missiles. The system is capable of hitting aerodynamic targets at a range of up to 400 kilometers (249 miles) and tactical ballistic targets flying at a speed of 4.8 km/s (3 mi/s) at a distance of up to 60 kilometers (37 miles). Such targets include cruise missiles, tactical and strategic aircraft and warheads of ballistic missiles.
The system’s radars make it possible to acquire aerial targets at a range of up to 600 kilometers (373 miles). The 48N6E3 anti-aircraft guided missile of S-400 system is capable to hit aerial targets at altitudes from 10,000 to 27,000 meters and ballistic targets at altitudes of from 2,000 to 25,000 meters.