Babushkin also hinted at growing bilateral collaboration with India on air defense and anti-drone technology.
Russia is committed to providing the remaining units of the S-400 air defense system to India by 2025-2026, the country’s Deputy Chief of Mission in India, Roman Babushkin, said on Monday, emphasizing that the system worked “very efficiently” during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
Babushkin also hinted at more bilateral collaboration with India on air defense and anti-drone technologies. “We heard that the S-400 functioned admirably during the recent conflict between India and Pakistan.
We have a long history of collaborating. According to our observations and the situation in Europe and here, air defense systems are one of the most promising areas of our collaboration in defense preparation in general,” Babushkin told PTI Videos. Babushkin verified that the contract for the last two S-400 units is on track, with deliveries due by 2025-26, as previously reported.
In 2018, India struck a USD 5.43 billion contract with Russia to purchase five squadrons of the S-400 Triumf missile system, a cutting-edge air defense technology capable of attacking numerous aircraft threats at long range. Three squadrons have already been delivered. Babushkin expressed willingness to engage in additional discussions about the possibility of expanding defense partnership. “We are open to promoting this partnership to discuss the expansion of dialogue on air defense systems,” he said, emphasizing the strategic relevance of such cooperation in today’s global security context.
Commenting on the growing threat of drones, particularly in light of their widespread usage during the India-Pakistan conflict, the deputy chief of mission emphasized Russia’s experience in dealing with such difficulties.”
We have been battling this threat for some years, and I believe that our systems are continually being updated. I believe it would be in both sides’ interests to work together to fight this threat and lead to other forms of cooperation,” he added, adding that anti-drone systems are already being discussed in the ongoing India-Russia defense talks. Babushkin also provided an update on the possibility of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visiting India. “The particular dates have not yet been set, but it might happen anytime soon. “We expect this month,” he stated.
