NEW DELHI – Negotiations between Russia and India on the supplies of S-400air defense systems are “at the final stage,” the contract may be signedany day now, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev told Sputnik inan interview.
“As far as I know, the negotiations [on the S-400 supplies] are at thefinal stage. I have received such information from the country’s DefenseMinistry. We expect signing of the contract any day now,” Kudashev said.
As the Russian diplomat noted, there is nothing surprising in the fact thatthe negotiations have continued for a while, given the seriousness of theissue.
“It is in the creation of an anti-missile defense of India, which willbecome a decisive factor in resolving the problems of the air and outerspace security of the country for decades.
This is a strategic choice, so the balanced and responsible approach of theparties, both Russian and Indian, does not surprise me,” the ambassadorsaid.
The S-400 Triumphlink>isRussia’s newest long-range anti-aircraft missile system. It is designedto destroy aircraft as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, includingmedium-range missiles; it can also be used against ground targets.
The range of the S-400 is 400 kilometers; it is capable of destroyingtargets at an altitude of up to 30 kilometers.