Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Monday at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in Delhi. The two Defense Ministers held fruitful and substantial bilateral discussions on defense cooperation. India attached importance to its special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia. Rajnath Singh received his Russian counterpart General Sergei Shoigu ahead of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) meeting.
Defense Minister tweeted after meeting Sergei Shoigu that India deeply appreciates Russia's strong support. We hope that our cooperation will bring peace, prosperity and stability to the entire region. Several agreements, contracts, protocols related to small arms and military cooperation were signed during the talks. There have been fruitful and substantial bilateral discussions on defense cooperation with the Russian Defense Minister, General Sergei Shoigu. India values its special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia.
Several issues were discussed in detail in the meeting, including ensuring timely delivery of the five state-of-the-art S-400 missile systems and effectively assisting in the deployment of the two systems coming this month. India had signed a deal with Russia to buy five air defense systems S-400 for $5.43 billion or Rs 40,000 crore. The Indian Air Force is to get a total of five regiments (flights) of the S-400 'Triumph' missile. There are eight launchers in each flight and two missiles in each launcher. India has also paid the first installment of $ 800 million for this in 2019.
Apart from this, talks were also held to finalize the Russian Assault Rifle AK-203 deal, so that it can be signed in the presence of Modi-Putin. The Union Government has approved the manufacturing of AK-203 rifles in India, two days before the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India. More than five lakh of these assault rifles will be produced at the Korva Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh with the help of Russia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin will also have a summit today, in which several agreements are likely to be sealed to strengthen cooperation in key areas of defence, trade and investment, energy and technology.