'Proceeding On Schedule': Russia Begins Supply Of S-400 Air Defence System To India

A contract for the purchase of s-400 missiles was entered by India and Russia in October 2018.

The delivery of the s-400 missiles is expected to coincide with Vladimir Putin’s visit to India

New Delhi: Dmitry Shugaev, Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation has said that Russia had started the delivery for s-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems to India, reported ANI.

"The supplies of the S-400 air defence system to India have started and are proceeding on schedule," Shugaev said. 

A contract for the purchase of s-400 missiles was entered by India and Russia in October 2018. The s-400 missiles have already entered service in China and Turkey. 

Alexander Mikheev, head of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, told Sputnik in August that negotiations were underway with seven countries in the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, and Africa for the supply of s-400 air defence systems.

The delivery of the s-400 missiles is expected to coincide with Vladimir Putin’s visit to India. As reported by PTI, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India next month for a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the PTI report, this summit is expected to result in significant outcomes in boosting ties in several areas including defense and security. It is being said that, at the summit, there will be a review regarding the regional security scenario including developments in Afghanistan. 

As a part of follow-up to the telephonic conversation between Modi and Putin regarding developments in Afghanistan, Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia had visited India in September this year.

It is also expected that ahead of the summit, both the countries may hold inaugural two-plus-two foreign and defence ministerial dialogue in Moscow. Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, visited India in April this year. His visit was said to be aimed at setting grounds for the annual India-Russia Summit.