The Indian Ministry of Defense has approved the purchase of a large batch of missiles for the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems (ZRK) from Russia, reports the Times of India, quoted by TASS, BTA reports.
Sources of the publication specify that the missiles will have different ranges in order to replenish the stocks of this weapon, used in May during the Indo-Pakistani military conflict, as well as to create reserves.
In addition, the Indian Ministry of Defense has approved a one-year contract with Russia for technical maintenance of the S-400. As part of the contract, a center for the repair and maintenance of these complexes, which are already in service with the army, will be established in India.
The government's security committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also plans to modernize 84 Su-30MKI fighters. The modernization will include new avionics, radars and long-range weapons. The Indian Air Force has a total of 259 Russian-made Su-30MKI aircraft. Although the main work on the modernization will be carried out by Indian specialists, Russia will have a certain role in the process, sources told The Times of India.
In 2018, India signed an agreement to purchase five divisions of the S-400 air defense system from Russia for $5.43 billion.