Trying to advance supply of S-400 missiles: Russia

New Delhi, November 12

Russia on Thursday said it was working “very hard” to advance the supply of the S-400 surface-to-air missiles to India even though the delivery of the first batch of the weapons system was scheduled by the end of next year.

At an online media briefing, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said both sides were working on a mutual logistics support agreement and were close to sealing a multi-billion dollar deal under which an India-Russian venture would produce 200 Kamov Ka-226T attack helicopters for India’s armed forces.

“We are watching closely the relations in strategic areas between India and other nations, including the US, of course. But at the same time we are absolutely sure that whatever ties India has with other nations, these would not be at the expense of Russia’s interests,” Babushkin said.

Last month, India and the US had inked the landmark BECA agreement that provides for sharing of high-end military technology, geo-spatial maps and classified satellite data between their militaries. On the S-400 deal, he said: “The deadlines remain unchanged at the moment. The first batch is expected to be supplied by the end of 2021 but we are working very hard for an earlier supply.” In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract could invite US sanctions. PTI