2 Russian arms deals likely next week, weaponry worth $15 bn in pipeline

Weaponry worth $15 billion in Moscow pipeline, underlining Russia's status as India's premier arms supplier

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will clear the purchase of one, and possibly two, Russian weapons systems, taking orders in the Moscow pipeline to above $15 billion and underlining Russia’s status as India’s premier arms supplier.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) — the MoD’s apex procurement body, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh — is poised to clear the purchase of the 9K338 Igla-S missile system for a sum of $1.3 billion.

India will buy 800 launchers and 5,175 Igla-S missiles, which fall in the so-called “Very Short Range Air Defence System” (VSHORADS) category.

The VSHORADS procurement has