Russia has begun to provide the S-400 air defense system to India, a Senior Russian official has said before visiting President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi for the planned annual Summit.
Shipping S-400 systems to India will be planned, Dmitry Shugaev, Director of Russian Federal Services for military technical cooperation, told the government-managed sputnik news agency.
“Supply S-400 Air Defense System to India has begun and continues the schedule,” Shugaev said, without providing further details.
There is no official word from India on development.
Hindustan’s time has reported last week that the delivery of the first S-400 system is expected to coincide with the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi in December for the annual Summit, which will set the stage for both countries that renew their military cooperation – Teknik for the next decade .
The two countries have signed a $ 5.4 billion contract for five S-400 systems during Putin’s last visit to India for the annual Summit in October 2018. India in the past few months signifies its intention to continue the agreement can withdraw secondary sanctions under American enemies against America’s Acts (Caatsa).
Some Indian Air Force Personnel teams have been trained in Russia to operate the air defense system that will be used to protect the main cities, strategic installations, and stretch sensitive from the state borders. Russian officials said shipping all systems are expected to be completed within five years of the contract signing.
The IAF is expected to induce the first unit of the S-400 system when India is locked in the border deadlock with China, which has deployed two S-400 spites in Hotan’s airbase in Xinjiang and Nyingchi Airbases in Tibap and Arunachal Pradesh respectively.
The S-400 is currently in service with the Chinese military and Turkey. In August, the Head of Russian State Weapon Exporter Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev, said negotiations about supplying the S-400 were taking place with seven countries in West Asia, the Asia-Pacific and African regions.
Putin is expected to be in New Delhi in the second week of December for the annual Summit, with the two countries at December 6 as the most likely date for the meeting. His visit will be preceded by the Prime 2 + 2 dialogue from the defense and Indian and Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow.
In the Summit, both parties are expected to update their military technical cooperation settings for 2021-31 and sign several agreements, including the exchange of logistics agreements (RELOS) to enable access to their respective logistics and support facilities and ports.
