Delhi. December 22. INTERFAX - India has received the first S-400 Triumph air defense systems from Russia under a contract and has begun deploying the first divisions, the Republic TV channel and the Hindustan Times newspaper reported.
According to the TV channel, citing sources, "the deployment of S-400 air defense systems began on the western border, namely in Punjab, where the first regiment has already been deployed. In the next few weeks, the following systems will arrive and be deployed along the Line of Actual Control (Line of Actual Control - the demarcation line between India and China)." At the same time, the TV channel indicates that the S-400 systems will also be deployed in the East of India.
For its part, the Hindustan Times newspaper reports that "the Indian Air Force deployed the first S-400 air defense division in Punjab on Tuesday in order to strengthen its defense capabilities against Pakistan and China."
Meanwhile, official comments from the Russian side have not yet been received.
In early October 2018, on the sidelines of the Russian-Indian negotiations at the highest level, a contract was signed for the supply of S-400 Triumph air defense systems to India (Almaz-Antey Concern of East Kazakhstan Region). Under the contract with a total value of $5.43 billion, India will receive five regimental sets of S-400.
In November of this year, the head of the FSVTS, Dmitry Shugaev, told Interfax that Russia had begun supplying India with the first batch of S-400 systems. It is expected that all systems will be delivered by the end of 2024.
On December 6, the Russian special exporter Rosoboronexport announced possible deliveries of an additional batch of S-400 to India as part of an option.
