Russia delays delivery of S-400 air defense systems to India due to its own needs

23 March, 2024 S-400 SAM. Photo from mass media Russia delays the delivery of S-400 air defense systems to India due to its own needs.

The Economic Times reported on this. Deliveries of two squadrons of S-400 air defense systems to India will be delayed until 2026, as Russia's own needs are linked to the war in Ukraine. It should be noted that the delays are primarily due to the losses of Russian air defense systems, which the Armed Forces of Ukraine periodically destroy.

Launchers of the Russian S-400 air defense system.

Photo from open sources.

As previously reported, in 2021, India began deploying the first regimental set of S-400 air defense systems in the Punjab sector to counter Pakistan Air Force. Russia and India had signed a deal to buy five squadrons of the S-400 air defense system. According to the initial plan, the last air defense system was to be handed over by April 2023.

In March 2021, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh of sanctions over India's purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems.

S-400 air defense system launcher of the Indian Armed Forces. Photo from the network

The Secretary of Defense emphasized that Washington was asking all its partners to refrain from buying Russian weapons to avoid sanctions.

As Militarnyi previously reported, the supply of Russian weapons to India has been interrupted due to the inability of the parties to agree on payment methods.

First of all, the process was interrupted due to New Delhi's refusal to pay for Russian weapons in dollars, as this could lead to the imposition of secondary sanctions against India.

India does not want to conclude the deal in rubles, fearing that it will not be able to purchase weapons at real market prices.