• Source:JND
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India is eyeing to make more procurements of the Russian surface-to-air defence system S-400 as it proved effective while defending against attacks from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

News agency PTI cited people familiar with the matter saying that the proposed procurement may figure in talks between India and Russia during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in December this year.

The first deal regarding the purchase of S-400 was signed between New Delhi and Moscow in October 2018. Back then, the deal was set at $ 5 billion for five units of the S-400.

The deal was clouded by the US warning that the contract would invite sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

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Despite threats, India went on with the deal and three squadrons have already been delivered. India's trust in S-400 was further strengthened during Operation Sindoor, when the Indian forces achieved the feat of shooting down the Pakistani aircraft AWACS from surface-to-air at a record range of 300 km, the longest ever.

When asked if India was planning at buying additional batches of the weapon system, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh did not give a direct reply, saying that there is requirement but no limit to numbers can be bought.

"Obviously, that has done good. So, there's a requirement to have more such (systems); there is no limit to numbers that you can buy. Again, I'm keeping quiet on what the plan (is) whether we want to buy more, how much etc," he said.

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"It has proved to be a good weapon system. We have our own system also being developed. So we will take a call on that," he said. People cited ny PTI also stated that India may also look at procuring S-500 missile systems.

(With PTI Inputs)