Delivery of S-400 missile systems to begin by November
CRIMEA, RUSSIA - NOVEMBER 29, 2018: S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems as an anti-aircraft military unit of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Southern Military District enters combat duty near the Crimean town of Dzhankoy twelve miles away from the Ukrainian border. Sergei Malgavko/TASS Ðîññèÿ. Ðåñïóáëèêà Êðûì. Áîåâûå ðàñ÷åòû çåíèòíûõ ðàêåòíûõ êîìïëåêñîâ (ÇÐÊ) Ñ-400 "Òðèóìô" èç ñîñòàâà ñîåäèíåíèÿ ïðîòèâîâîçäóøíîé îáîðîíû àðìèè ÂÂÑ è ÏÂÎ Þæíîãî âîåííîãî îêðóãà, çàñòóïèâøèå íà áîåâîå äåæóðñòâî ïî ïðîòèâîâîçäóøíîé îáîðîíå íåäàëåêî îò Äæàíêîÿ, â 20 êèëîìåòðàõ îò ãðàíèöû ñ Óêðàèíîé. Ñåðãåé Ìàëüãàâêî/ÒÀÑÑ
A senior official told that the delivery schedule of S-400 long-range air defense systems had been on track for the end of 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. “The deal is on track and deliveries are expected to begin by November this year,” the official said. Two officials independently stated that efforts were made to speed up the deal but the Russian side had conveyed this was not possible. Two official sources, also speaking independently, dismissed concerns over possible U.S. sanctions on the deal under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), stating this deal met national security considerations.
In October 2018, India had signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia for five S-400 regiments despite objections from the U.S., with deliveries scheduled to begin at the end of 2021. U.S. officials on several occasions raised concerns over the deal as India deepened its defense cooperation with the U.S. and acquired several frontline military platforms like transport aircraft, helicopters, artillery, and drones. Indian officials had reiterated that all payment-related issues had been resolved and the deal was well underway. Responding to questions on the issue at a press conference during his visit to India in February, U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin had said that there had been no delivery of an S-400 system, and “the issues of sanctions is not one that’s been discussed”. He had also stated, “But we did address with the Minister of Defence the issue of the S-400.”
For the Indian Air Force (IAF), the high-end technology S-400 would give a fillip and make up for its falling fighter aircraft squadrons in the medium-term. Former IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa has on several occasions termed the S-400 air defense systems and Rafale fighter jets “game changers” and “booster dose” for the IAF.
Source: The Hindu
On behalf of the Special Frontier Force, I would like to claim that the US would not impose its threatened sanctions on India for acquiring the Russian Missiles. The S-400 Missiles do not pose any threat to the US.
In 1971, I was keenly watching the US response to the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. The US recognizes the importance of the military cooperation with India and resolved to maintain its full support to the Special Frontier Force despite the Friendship Treaty with the Soviet Union.