DAC likely to discuss buying S-400 missile system

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A Defence Acquisition Council meeting to be held here on Monday is likely to discuss acquisition of S-400 missile systems from Russia, informed sources said.

The long-range air defence missile system is capable of destroying incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and drones at ranges of up to 400 km.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will chair the meeting, his first after taking charge as the Defence Minister after Manohar Parrikar went back to Goa to take over as the Chief Minister of the state last month.

The deal worth over $5-billion or around Rs 33,000 crore for the S-400 defence system was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India last year.

The sources said India is likely to remove an offset clause from the deal.

The delayed government policy on strategic partner which awaits final clearance, will, however, not be taken up at the meeting of the DAC -- the apex decision-making body of the Defence Ministry, the sources added.

--IANS

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