News Story: Official - India Will Postpone S-400 Triumf Purchase

S-400 Triumf (Image: Wiki Commons)

Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — Contrary to the defense minister's claim in parliament Tuesday that the Indian Air Force will acquire five firing units of the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) system between 2017 and 2022, one senior Ministry of Defence (MoD) official who requested anonymity says a budget crunch will prevent such a purchase for at least two years.

"Our priority is to clear the global buy of $8.9 billion for Rafale fighters, $1.5 billion for very short range air defense (VSHORAD) man-portable systems and $1.5 billion in short-range surface-to-air missile (SRSAM) systems. There is no money for other foreign purchases," the official said.

On Tuesday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the Defence Acquisition Council approved at its Dec. 17 meeting the purchase of the S-400 LRSAM systems along with associated equipment and missiles from Russia.

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