New Delhi: Amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the East has started shipping some components of the second regiment of the S-400 Triumph missile defense system to India, sources familiar with the matter said.
“Russia has started supplying some components of the second regiment of the S-400 missile system. All major parts of the regiment are yet to be supplied,” news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.
As per reports, the components supplied include simulators for training purposes.
The development comes at a time when there is growing concern over a possible delay by Russia in the supply of key military hardware to India in the wake of the crisis.
Notably, Russia began delivering the first regiment of the missile system to India in December.
The missile system has already been deployed in a manner that can cover parts of the border with China as well as with Pakistan.
It should be noted that in October 2018, India signed an agreement with Russia worth USD 5 billion for the purchase of five units of S-400 air defense missile systems, despite warnings from the Trump administration that the contract could invite US sanctions. The agreement was signed.
Russia has been a major supplier of military hardware to India and the two countries are discussing a payment mechanism that could work in light of Western sanctions on Moscow.
According to reports, the issue of India-Russia defense ties was raised during the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to India two weeks ago.
Last month, Russia had said that Western sanctions against it would not affect the supply of missile systems to India.
Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov had said, “As far as the S-400 deal is concerned, rest assured that it will not be affected in any way. It is 100 bails.”
Notably, Western countries have imposed severe sanctions on Russia in the past few days following a military invasion of Ukraine.