India To Buy S-300v Russian Missile System

India will purchase the Russian anti-missile system S-300V as part of a $2.5 billion arms package following the initiation of a new defence cooperation pact between the two countries.

The S-300V is to be inducted within the next one years, the sources said, adding that it is the most advanced system of its kind and significantly better than the US-made Patriot.

The S-300V is capable of tracking some 400 targets including aircraft, missile and smaller objects like drones.

A second important part of the deal will be the MiG-AT trainer jet.

The S-300V and the MiG-AT trainer jet are to made in India under a technology transfer deal that will form part of the new long-term defence cooperation pack.

 

The existing Indo-Russian defence pact is due to expire in 2000 and the new agreement will take over and be in force till 2010.

The pact is expected to be signed during Russian President Boris Yelstin's visit to New Delhi later this year.

Indian defence secretary Ajit Kumar held a preliminary round of talks with Russian defence ministry officials in Moscow last week on fine tuning the new agreement.

The arms package would include two submarines and an aircraft carrier after refitment as per Indian requirements.

Official sources said the Indian Air Force had zeroed down on the MiG-AT after decade-long negotiations with British Aerospace and the French Dassualt for an aircraft trainer.

The MiG-AT, now tipped to bag the over $1 billion IAF order for 40 trainers, scored because of its unique feature of duplicating the flying characteristics of several fighter aircraft _ the MiGs, Sukhois, F-16s and the Mirage.

Coming at the heels of the Indian nuclear test, the pact is expected to be frowned upon by the US which may oppose the anti-missile system sale on the grounds that it will lead to a missile race in an already tense region.

Coming a year after the $1.8 billion Sukhoi aircraft purchase, the S-300V deal will make India the number one weapons purchaser in South and South-East Asia in recent times.