India has started final cost negotiations for acquisition of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems, Shephard has learned. The final deal is expected to be signed by 2019.
However, a spanner in the works is the recent ‘Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act’ (CAATSA) enacted by the US. This law imposes sanctions on those engaging in transactions with the intelligence or defence sectors of the Russian Federation government.
The list of 39 Russian entities liable to sanctions under CAATSA includes Rosoboronexport, Rostec and Almaz-Antey, the manufacturer of the S-400.
‘Imposing CAATSA would be detrimental to both the US and India.