Russia vows to deliver S-400 missile systems to India on schedule, according to the minister counsellor of the Russian Embassy in India

MOSCOW: Russia and India have settled the issue of the Indian side’s advance payment for the delivery of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems, the press office of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation told TASS on Thursday.

"The contract for S-400s will be implemented in compliance with the accords reached and the documents signed. The issue of making an advance payment under the contract has been resolved. We are not commenting on the details," the press office said.

New Delhi announced its intention to acquire Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems back in 2015. The delivery contract worth $5.43 billion was signed during the visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to India last year. The deal infuriated Washington, which is threatening to impose sanctions on the states that are acquiring weapons and military hardware from Russia. However, India says it does not intend to give up the deal for the purchase of Russian-made S-400 air defence missile systems.

The S-400 ‘Triumf’ is the most advanced long-range air defence missile system that went into service in Russia in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.

Russia has also inked the contracts for the delivery of these systems with China (the first customer) and Turkey.

TASS