New Delhi: Russia on Thursday said it was working "very hard" to advance the supply of the S-400 surface-to-air missiles to India even though the delivery of the first batch of the weapons system is scheduled by the end of next year.
At an online media briefing, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin also said that both sides are working on a mutual logistics support agreement and close to seal a multi-billion dollar deal under which an Indo-Russian joint venture will produce 200 Kamov Ka-226T attack helicopters for the Indian armed forces.
Asked whether the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) signed between India and the US will have security implications in the operation of Russian-origin platforms by the Indian armed forces, Babushkin did not give a direct reply, but said Moscow''s defence ties with India are immune to any "restrictions and foreign interference".
"We are watching quite closely the relations in strategic areas between India and other nations including the US, of course. But at the same time we are absolutely sure that whatever ties India is developing with other nations, they would not be at the expense of Russia''s interests," he said.
Last month, India and the US inked the landmark BECA agreement that will provide for sharing of high-end military technology, geospatial maps and classified satellite data between their militaries.
"As far as our defence cooperation with India is concerned, it is immune to any restrictions and foreign interference, because it reflects national interests of both countries and we are proceeding with a great sense of confidence to the future progress in our ties," Babushkin said.
On the S-400 deal, he said: "The deadlines remained unchanged at the moment. The first batch is expected to be supplied by end of 2021 but we are working very hard for an earlier supply."
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, notwithstanding warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanction.
In view of the evolving security scenario in its neighbourhood, India recently requested Russia to explore the possibility of advancing the supply of the interceptor-based missile systems which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km.
Last year, India made the first tranche of payment of around USD 800 million to Russia for the missile systems. The S-400 is known as Russia''s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.
Babushkin said the Kamov helicopter deal and another one to manufacture 700,000 AK-47 203 rifles in India under an Indo-Russian joint venture were in the final stages of conclusion.