Modi, Putin set to sign multi-billion defence deal on S 400 Triumf, Kamov-226 choppers today

Panaji: India and Russia will sign several agreements to enhance defence and nuclear cooperation, including delivery of advanced S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to New Delhi on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Goa ahead of the BRICS summit also involving the heads of leading emerging nations Brazil, China and South Africa.

An agreement to build frigates for the Indian Navy would also be signed on Saturday, as well as a deal to set up a joint venture in India to build multi-task Kamov-226 helicopters.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has been quoted as saying by TASS news agency that the deal for the air defence system will be signed.

India is likely to reaffirm its concerns over growing Russia-Pakistan military ties when PM Modi holds talks with Putin here during which the two sides will look at ramping up their "special and privileged partnership" by inking pacts in areas of defence and nuclear energy.

Discussion on terrorism will be on the agenda when the two leaders meet today during the 17th bilateral summit between the two countries.

Talks between India and Russia for setting up units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) are at an advanced stage and a general framework agreement could be announced after talks between PM Modi and Putin on the sidelines of BRICS Summit in Goa.

PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with other BRICS leaders including China`s President Xi Jinping late Saturday, before hosting a dinner in their honour to officially start the BRICS summit.

BRICS was formed in 2011 with the aim of using its growing economic and political influence to challenge Western hegemony.

All about S-400 Triumf air defence missile system

The S-400 is a new generation anti-aircraft system, which can be equipped with very long-range missiles (up to 400km), long-range (250km) and medium-range (120km).

The S-400 Triumf is capable of countering all air attack weapons, including tactical and strategic aircraft, ballistic missiles and hypersonic targets such as the US F-35 fighter jet.

The S-400 can engage up to 36 targets simultaneously with as many as 72 missiles at altitudes of five meters to 30 km.