India and China may become the first buyers of the Russian new-generation S-500 air defense system, the head of the Federal Customs Service said Dmitry Shugaev. On the air of Sputnik radio, military expert Alexey Leonkov shared his opinion on possible delivery dates, and also predicted the reaction of the West.
Russia considers India and China as the first potential buyers of the latest S-500 anti-aircraft missile systems, said Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC).
"When this system is delivered to the Armed Forces in the required volume, it will also be possible to export it. We consider India, as well as China and all those states with whom we have long-standing partnerships and predictable relationships, as the future owners of this newest system," Shugaev said in an interview with RBC.
He did not specify the delivery dates, noting that the FSVTS will consider applications individually.
Shugaev also recalled that India is our long-standing strategic partner, with which a contract has already been signed for the supply of S-400, the country will receive the first division of this system by the end of the year.
The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian army will soon receive the first serial model of the S-500.
The S-500 Prometheus is a universal long-range and high-altitude interception complex with an increased missile defense potential. It is capable of detecting and simultaneously hitting up to ten ballistic supersonic targets, including blocks of hypersonic missiles.
On the air of Sputnik radio, military expert Alexey Leonkov told when, in his opinion, it will be possible to talk about the supply of S-500 abroad.
He also shared his opinion on what the West's reaction to these supplies might be.
