Moscow. August 22. INTERFAX-The S-400 Triumph systems can be delivered to Belarus to strengthen the air defense system of the union state, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov said in an interview with Interfax.
"Russia and Belarus have long been linked by close allied relations. (...) In this regard, there are objectively plans for further improvement and strengthening of the air defense system of the Republic of Belarus, which is a member of the Union State. With this in mind, Belarus can also be supplied with such state-of-the - art air defense systems as the S-400, developed and manufactured by the enterprises of the Almaz-Antey concern, "Manturov said.
He recalled that Russia and Belarus are co-founding members of the Union State, the Customs and Eurasian Economic Union, and also conduct military cooperation within the framework of the CSTO.
In addition, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation said that Russia has fulfilled its contractual obligations for the supply of Su-30SM fighters to Belarus.
"At the end of 2019, four Su-30SM fighters were delivered to the Belarusian side. Thus, the 2017 contract between the Belarusian Defense Ministry and Irkut Corporation can be considered fulfilled, " Manturov said.
On August 9, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that the country is interested in buying S-400 systems and expects a positive decision of the Russian leadership.
"Such a question has been put to the president of Russia - that at a similar price, for a loan-because we do not have such money now. But we are conducting a dialogue with him (with the President of the Russian Federation - IF) about the S-400 being delivered to the Republic of Belarus," Lukashenko said during a "Big conversation" with the public and the media.
"We are very interested in the S-400, and I am sure that we will receive these complexes," he added.
On July 22, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Shugaev, said that Minsk has not yet submitted an application for the purchase of the S-400.
"If a corresponding request is received from the Belarusian side for the supply of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems and Pantsir-S1 anti - aircraft missile and gun systems, this issue will be worked out in accordance with the established procedure, "Shugaev told Interfax.
Earlier, in January, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus announced the preparation of a contract with Russia for the supply of S-400 "Triumph" systems and short-range air defense systems "Pantsir-S".
"We are continuing pre-contract work on re-equipping our divisions of anti-aircraft missile forces armed with S-300 with new S - 400 and Pantsir-S complexes," said Igor Golub, commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus, quoted by the country's Defense Ministry.