Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, India has received defense equipmentfor the training squadron of the Russia-made S-400 Triumf advancedsurface-to-air missile defense system, local media reported on Friday.
In December, India announced that Russia had begun deliveries of the S-400long-range defense systems to India.
Local news agency Asian News International (ANI) reported that the countryreceived simulators and other equipment from Moscow.
The report said that despite the war in Ukraine, “defense supplies fromMoscow are continuing.” The latest supplies from Russia also included”overhauled fighter aircraft engines and spares for an aircraft fleet.”
“It does not include missiles or launchers,” the agency quoted defensesources as saying, adding that India also received the final parts of theS-400 system from Russia whose first squadron was “operational to take careof threats” from neighboring countries.
India, a long-time ally of Russia, has in recent times been growing closerto Washington. Since Russia launched a war on Ukraine in February, Indiahas called for a peaceful solution but refrained from openly criticizingMoscow.
Specter of US sanctions
In 2018, India and Russia signed a $5.5 billion contract for the S-400system, putting India at risk of US sanctions.
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The US has long tried to deter countries from buying military equipmentfrom Russia, threatening them with punitive measures under the CounteringAmerica’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Despite Washington’s warnings, New Delhi moved forward with the purchase,arguing that it has strategic connections with both Russia and the US.
Turkiye, another country that has gone forward with its own S-400 purchase,has dismissed the US sanctions threat and said the missiles are a matter ofnational security.
US President Joe Biden’s Coordinator for Sanctions Policy James O’Brientold lawmakers in the House of Representatives last week that the US doesnot want India to buy the S-400 system from Russia, according to mediareports.
He also said Washington has to consider important geostrategiccircumstances in response to growing demand from Biden to exempt India fromCAATSA.
