India Likely To Be First Foreign Buyer Of Advanced S-500 Air Defence System: Russian Deputy PM

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov has said that India is likely to be the first foreign buyer of the S-500 ‘Prometei’ air defence system.

When asked whether India would be the first country to purchase the Russian-made S-500, Borisov told RBC TV Channel on Monday, “Beyond a doubt, once we deliver this system to our troops, India will be the first on the list, if it expresses its desire to buy these advanced armaments," reports Russian news agency TASS.

It should be noted that the Russian Deputy PM's remarks comes as Russia has started the delivery of the S400 Triumf surface to air missile system to India, under the over $5 billion deal signed by New Delhi and Moscow in 2018.

Earlier in July, Russian Defence Ministry had announced a successful test launch of the S-500 air defence system against a fast-moving ballistic target at Kapustin Yar proving ground.

The S-500 anti-aircraft missile system is reportedly designed to strike all existing and future aerospace attack weapons of a potential enemy at all altitudes and speeds.

Russia has been training specialists to operate the S-500 since 2017. The Prometei is set to replace the S-400 ‘Triumf’ surface-to-air missile system, TASS reported.