India signs $400mn contract for 24 anti-aircraft systems

MOSCOW: India has signed a contract worth $400 million for purchase of 24 Russian anti-aircraft systems which consist of armoured vehicles with automatic cannons, missiles and radar detection and targetting equipment, reports said.

The four batteries of 'Tunguska-'M1 gun-missile air defence complexes are in addition to the 60 older versions of Tunguska and two batteries (12 units) of the new complexes that are already in India's possession.

Each air defence complex comprises of a tracked, armoured vehicle carrying two automatic cannons, apart from missiles and radar detection and targeging instruments.

Built by state-owned Almaz-Antei company, the Tunguska is capable of destroying enemy aircraft within a range of 10 km with its precision missiles and shells, Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday quoting unnamed defence industry sources.

Serially produced at Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant in Volga region, Tunguska-M1 are all-weather air defence complexes for defending military units on the march and in battle array from military aircraft and cruise missiles.

Self-propelled Tunguska gun-missile complex is the only air defence system with integrated gun and missile channels, Interfax reported.

Its 360 degree radar can detect hostile aerial targets within the radius of 18 km flying at the altitude of 15000 to 3500 metres, it said.