Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov.15: The first regiment of Russia’s anti-aircraft missile system air defence (PRO) S-400 will be supplied to India by the end of 2021, according to Alexander Mikheev, director general of Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport.
“All the property of the first regimental set of S-400s will be delivered to India at the end of 2021,” Mikheev was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Sputnik. He added that the deliveries started ahead of schedule.
The head of Rosoboronexport also said that Indian experts have already completed training in Russia and returned home. “Immediately after the New Year, our specialists will arrive in India to hand over the equipment at its locations,” Mikheev added.
Russia has begun supplying the S-400 defence missile system to India, according to the Director of the Russian government’s main defence export control organisation.
At the Dubai air show, Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Dmitry Shugaev announced, “Russia has started supplying the S-400 air defence system to India.” The Russian government’s major defence export control organisation is the FSMTC.
According to sources in the Indian military sector, pieces of the air defence system have begun arriving in India and will be first placed at the Western border, where it will be able to combat threats from both the Western and Northern borders with Pakistan and China.
India has contracted for the S-400 air defence system in a deal valued approximately 35,000 crore, and five squadrons will be delivered to India to combat air threats from distances of up to 400 kilometres.
According to sources, the equipment is being transported to India by boat and air. According to reports, after the first squadron is deployed, the Air Force will begin focusing on the country’s eastern borders, as well as providing resources for personnel training within the country.
The air defence system would provide India a competitive advantage in South Asian skies, since it would be capable of intercepting hostile planes and cruise missiles from a distance of 400 kilometres.
