Russia missile deal with India vexes U.S.
Russia and India are set to sign a deal worth more than $5 billion on the delivery of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles. Julian Satterthwaite reports.
Russia is selling a five billion dollar (USD) missile system to India - much to Washington's displeasure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the country on Thursday (October 4) for annual talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India's military wants to buy the anti-aircraft missiles to act as a deterrent against China, and also to get one up on rival Pakistan.
The U.S. says the purchase could lead it to impose sanctions.
But that hasn't put Modi off.
The deal signed Friday (October 5) on the sidelines of their summit.
Agreements too on nuclear power and spaceflight:
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SAYING:
"We have agreed that Russia will assist Indian partners in exploring outer space. Roscosmos agency plans to participate in preparing (the preparation of) Indian national programme to launch manned spacecraft."
During the Cold War, India bought more than 80 percent of its arms from the Soviet Union.
These days though it's the U.S. that supplies most of the country's gear.
Over the last ten years, the two countries have done 15 billion dollars worth of deals.
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