India may become the first country to purchase S-500: Russian Deputy PM

Moscow: – The Russian Deputy Prime Minister said that India can be the first customer for the Russian Super-Advanced S-500 air defence system. It is being claimed that discussions regarding S-500 were held during the India visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin. India has not acknowledged this on the official level. But this claim could deliver a major jolt to the United States and China, who closely monitor the India-Russia defence cooperation. This is because both these countries are looking at this cooperation as a challenge.

India has purchased the advanced S-400 air defence system from Russia; two of its batteries have already reached India. India can deploy this system on the Line of Actual Control from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. This possibility is making China restless. The S-400 Triumph, supplied to India by Russia, is more advanced than the S-400 supplied to China. Also, China faced US sanctions following this transaction with Russia. But the United States is not willing to impose similar sanctions against India. This also is bothering China.

The Biden administration in the United States had threatened that India could face sanctions in the wake of the S-400 transaction. But India completed the deal with Russia without paying any heed to the US threats. The Biden administration has indicated that India has been exempted from sanctions. Still, any new transaction of this nature, with Russia, in the defence sector will attract sanctions from the United States. But the Indian government is not willing to pay too much attention to these US threats.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Uri Borisov announced that India could be the first customer for the super-advanced S-500 Prometheus air defence system in this situation. This system can easily target missiles, drones and fighter jets at a distance of up to 600 kilometres. India has not made its stand clear regarding the purchase of this system. But the Indian leaders have clarified that India will purchase all the defence equipment and systems necessary without paying any heed to objections raised by other countries. Therefore, purchasing the S-500 system will be extremely important for India from a military point of view and a strategic and diplomatic viewpoint. It is also apparent that Russia has given clear indications with this announcement that it is willing to supply the system to India and that China will not pressurise it in any way.