Russian S-400 Program with India on Schedule Despite Coronavirus: Diplomat

The spread of Coronavirus infection will not affect the schedule for the implementation of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems delivery to India.

Russian news agency TASS learnt this during the course of an interview with the Ambassador of India in Moscow Bala Venkatesh Varma.

“There was a slight shift in the supply schedule by two weeks, but all key (defence) contracts will be implemented in accordance with it, I do not expect any problems,” the diplomat was quoted as saying in a report published in the Russian language publication of TASS.

In February, Vladimir Drozhzhov, Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia, announced that the first batch of S-400s would be delivered to India by the end of 2021.

In October 2018, Moscow and New Delhi signed a contract for the supply of five regimental sets of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems (air defense systems) worth more than $ 5 billion. Completion of supplies of the fifth regiment set of S-400 air defense systems is planned in the first half of 2025.

Both India and Russia have imposed a lock-down to battle the Coronavirus epidemic sweeping the world with most  resources focused on treatment of patients and preventing the disease  from spreading.