India and Russia are expected to sign two major arms deals today

President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold the annual bilateral summit today, India and Russia are expected to sign two major arms deals - for the S-400 Triumf air and missile defence system and four more Kirivak/Talwar class stealth frigates. The 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit scheduled to take place on Friday is expected to see the both sides review bilateral defence cooperation in the wake of the US sanctions against Russian defence majors. The key focus will be the $5-billion deal (Rs 39,000 crore) for supply of the S-400 system, which is capable of destroying incoming aerial targets at a range of 400km. The deal will come against backdrop of the US threat that the S-400 air and missile defence system is a “focus area” for significant transactions that could attract indirect sanctions against nations that enter into a military purchase with Moscow. “The administration has indicated that a focus area for the implementation of CAATSA Section 231 is new or qualitative upgrades in capability – including the S-400,” a US state department spokesperson said on Wednesday. India and Russia are also likely to sign a $2.5 billion deal for four more Krivak/Talwar class stealth frigates for the Indian navy on Friday during the summit, according to two senior officials familiar with the matter. President Putin and PM Modi are also likely to deliberate on key regional and global issues, including US sanctions on import of Iranian crude oil. -PTC News