New Delhi – The Bharat Dynamics Limited has signed a new deal with Russia to further strengthen its air defense system. This deal has been done with Rosoboronexport, a Russian government-controlled arms export company, for the Advanced Pantsir Air Defense Missile Gun System. The Pantsir Air Defense System is a versatile mobile platform designed to protect army bases and other infrastructure from air attacks, including aircraft, drones and precision guided munitions. It has advanced radar and tracking systems. Which is capable of detecting and attacking targets up to 36 km away and an altitude of 15 km. This agreement for this defense system between the two countries was done during the 5th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission Subgroup Meeting held in Goa.
Deal is part of Make in India initiative
BDL and ROE’s target is to find new ways for manufacturing, technology transfer and joint development of Pantsir variants. This is included in India’s target to become self-dependent in defense production under the Make in India initiative.
India had signed a $5 billion deal
India had signed a deal to buy S-400 air defense systems from Russia in 2018. Under this deal, India was to get all these air defense systems in the next 5 years. Russia has given only 3 air defense systems to India so far. India is yet to get 2 S-400s. A major reason behind this is believed to be the Ukraine war, due to which the delivery of air defense systems is getting delayed.
