2024-04-26 20:52:30
Moscow: Russia has prepared to deliver the remaining two units of S-400 system to India next year i.e. by 2025. India had purchased five units of S-400 missile system from Russia for $5.4 billion. Of these, 3 have been delivered, while 2 were stopped by Russia. It was reported that Russia was using the S-400 system made for India in the Ukraine war. Due to economic sanctions, Russia was also facing shortage of many parts and raw materials used in the S-400 system. In such a situation, Russia first gave priority to the use of S-400 for its own security.
Delivery to India will be completed by 2025
Hindustan Times, quoting sources familiar with the matter, has said that the remaining units of S-400 will be handed over to India by 2025. Under the terms of the deal signed between India and Russia in October 2018 for five S-400 systems, all deliveries were to be completed within a period of five years. However, deliveries were affected by the conflict in Ukraine and Western sanctions, which have also affected individual payments for weapon systems.
The first unit was received in December 2021
“Now a new deadline has come for the delivery of the remaining S-400 systems and things are back on track,” the report quoted an official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying. The remaining two S-400 systems are expected to arrive in India by the end of next year, the people said, without giving further specifics. The Russian side has so far delivered three S-400 systems to India. Delivery of the first system began in December 2021 and the battery was deployed to cover parts of the border with China and the border with Pakistan in the northern region, the people said.
America had warned India of sanctions
India went ahead with the S-400 deal despite America’s warning. America had threatened that this deal could lead to sanctions being imposed on India under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The US had imposed secondary sanctions on Turkey under the same law for purchasing S-400. However, the US has not yet taken similar action against India.
How dangerous is the S-400 system?
The S-400 is Russia’s newest long- and medium-range surface-to-air missile defense system which entered service in 2007. It is designed to destroy strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons. It can also be used for attacks against ground targets. The S-400 system can attack targets at a range of 400 km and at an altitude of 30 km.