Agencies
NEW DELHI: Even as India gets ready to receive its first S-400 missile system by December under a $5.43 billion deal to buy Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system, a top Russian leader says New Delhi could even buy its advanced S-500 systems.
India signed the deal with Russia in 2019 to buy five S-400 systems – the world’s most advanced missile defence system.
But Russia has already developed the S-500 which is the most advanced missile system that can take out aircraft flying at the fastest speeds and hit hypersonic weapons in near-earth space.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov hinted on Thursday that New Delhi could become the first country to buy the newest system.
“When we meet the needs of our own armed forces, we can issue an export passport. After that, the supreme commander-in-chief [Russian President Vladimir Putin] can decide on whether to grant deliveries to India, if they apply for it,” the Russian Deputy Prime Minister was quoted as saying by Russia Today.
Because of Russia’s friendly relations with New Delhi and the lack of shared regional conflicts, he said, India was a low-risk customer for Russian advanced hardware.
“In some cases, we are happy to sell to India what we don’t sell to other countries,” the Russian leader was quoted as saying.
India is buying the S-400 systems during its border stand-off with China.
The US had threatened sanctions on India when the deal to buy the S-400 systems was signed.
Now that New Delhi is drawn even closer to Washington under the so-called `quad’ comprising the US, Japan, Australia and India, it will be interesting how the Americans react.
