"Additional S-400 not ruled out": Defence Secy says will seek clear answers on order delays during Putin's visit

New Delhi [India], November 28 (ANI): The Indian government will be discussing broader defence cooperation and seek clear answers from Russia on delivery delays of the S-400 air defence systems during the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Friday.
While addressing ANI's National Security Summit's session 1 in New Delhi, the Defence Secretary said that Putin's visit to India in early December will focus on "broader elements of Cooperation on defence," and will discuss the potentially ordering additional S-400 systems, but not to expect any announcements regarding that.
"Potentially S-400 not ruled but don't expect any announcements during this. This meeting will focus on the broader elements of Cooperation on defence between the 2 sides. We'll try to ensure that some of these delivery delays are ended and we start getting clearer answers in terms of when some of these Delayed deliveries take place," Defence Secretary said.
While he refused to elaborate on potential procurement decisions, he mentioned that India and Russia have a large defence program, and the country has promised to deliver the rest of the equipment in Financial Year 2026-27.
"I don't want to talk about specific, procurement decisions. That is essentially in a sense, giving advanced warning of what have to be cabinet decisions. So I'm not going to talk about specific platforms but we have a very large defence program with them. Including the existing S-400 contracts which are delayed. But they've now promised to deliver the balance to batteries in the coming Financial year," he said.
Similarly, delays on various milestones regarding other contracts will be taken up with the Russian side, with efforts to expedite delivery.
"Bunch of other programs which are there are delivery Milestone delays which Will take up with them. And try to sort of expedite. Those including the uh and The major programs such as the Sukhoi upgradation," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to visit India on early December to attend the Russia-India Summit.
The S-400 systems was successfully used to bring down multiple Pakistani fighter and spy planed during Operation Sindoor Indian Air Force's system brought down five to six Pakistani fighter aircraft and one spy plane at a distance of over 300 Km deep inside Pakistan during the four-day conflict and has been termed as a game-changer by the Armed Forces. (ANI)