Defense News:
NEW DELHI — India has quietly approved a $5.43 billion program to buy five S-400 Triumph air defense systems from Russia, just a week before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Oct. 5 visit to the country.
The program was approved earlier this week by the Indian government’s highest defense approval body, the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
When asked about India’s decision in relation to U.S. objections over the purchase, a top Ministry of Defence official said: “We already have communicated our stand on the subject to Washington.”
A formal government-to-government contract is expected to be announced during the 19th India-Russia summit on Oct. 5…
