S-400 Triumf - Why is India acquiring this air defence missile system from Russia

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will sign a multi-billion dollar deal for S-400 'Triumf' long-range air defence missile systems on Saturday.

The two leaders will ink the deal after their talks in Goa ahead of the summit of the BRICS.

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.

India is interested in getting five systems of the most modern air defence system, capable of firing three types of missiles, creating a layered defence, and simultaneously engaging 36 targets.

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

The S-400, an upgraded version of the S-300, had previously only been available to the Russian defence forces.

It is manufactured by Almaz-Antey and has been in service in Russia since 2007.

If India signs the deal, it would be the second customer of the prized missile system after China which had struck a USD 3 billion contract last year.

Besides grabbing the S-400 defence deal, Russia also plans to sign an agreement on building Project 11356 frigates for the Indian Navy and setting up a Russian- Indian joint venture to produce Kamov Ka-226T helicopters.