Senior Russian officials confirmed
India will accept it by the end of this year.
Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft missile system
A group of Indian military experts has also arrived in Russia.
Carry out relevant military training
Will India’s move lead to US sanctions?
Experts say: The possibility is extremely low
India may accept Russian-made S-400 within the year
US: India still has time to “rethink”
According to the Russian News Agency, during the 2021 Indian Air Show, Vladimir Drozhov, deputy director of the Russian Federation Military Technical Cooperation Agency, said that India would receive the first regiment’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile system by the end of 2021.
He also said that a group of Indian experts arrived in Russia in January this year and began to learn how to operate the S-400.
In October 2018, Russia signed five export contracts with India for S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, which cost more than $5 billion. This is the largest transaction ever made by the Russian Defense Export Corporation, and delivery is expected to be completed by April 2023.
India has made the first advance payment of 800 million US dollars to Russia in 2019, and the rest will be paid according to the progress of delivery.
Indian Ministry of Defense sources revealed to the Indian media that Russia is scheduled to start delivering the first set of S-400 to India from September to October this year. More than 100 Indian military experts arrived in Russia in January for military training related to the operation of the S-400.
According to Reuters, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in India revealed on the 15th that the United States has noticed recent reports that India has purchased the S-400, but Russia has not delivered it.
U.S. government officials believe that the Indian government still has time to “reconsider” the deal, and once the deal is completed, the United States may impose sanctions.
According to the Indian media, with the Biden administration taking office, India is “very promising” to obtain a “amnesty” from the United States on this issue in the future.
New Delhi has previously assured the United States that India’s purchase of the weapon is based on “urgent national security needs” and will not undermine the confidentiality of the U.S. weapons.
However, the United States said that it would not finally decide on sanctions against India until Russia officially delivered the S-400, which “may affect India’s plan to introduce advanced fighters and drones from the United States”.
According to the Times of India, India and Russia are currently negotiating how to circumvent possible sanctions imposed by the United States.
Expert: The possibility of U.S. sanctions against India is extremely low.
Or “open one eye and close one eye”
The United States has repeatedly warned about the deal between Russia and India that it may invoke the Sanctions Against the U.S. Enemies Act to impose sanctions on India.
It is widely believed that the continued introduction of this air defense system may cause India’s relations with the newly in power Biden government to cool down. So will the Biden administration wave the “sanctions stick” to India?
Analysis by Teng Jianqun, special commentator of the General Station:
India’s purchase of S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, firstly, it considers the capabilities of the Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, which can carry out a variety of combat tasks; second, such a deal is very suitable for India.
Considering the needs of the Indo-Pacific strategy, the possibility of sanctions imposed by the United States against India is extremely low.
India may successfully complete the purchase of S-400 missiles, and the United States will turn a blind eye.
India may “compensate” the United States in other aspects, and the strategic mutual use of the two sides will force the Biden administration to abandon sanctions against India.
