New Delhi: Russia has started the delivery of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to India, according to a senior Russian official.
Russia's Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Dmitry Shugaev told Sputnik news that the deliveries are going as planned.
"The supplies of the S-400 air defence system to India have started and are proceeding on schedule," he said.
The development comes as both sides prepare for a visit to India by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 6 for a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
There was no official comment by the Indian Air Force on the deliveries.
In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions.
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India made the first tranche of payment of around USD 800 million to Russia for the missile systems in 2019.
The S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.
Following US sanctions on Turkey over the procurement of S-400 missile systems, there have been apprehensions that Washington may impose similar punitive measures on India.
PTI
