India to Soon Test Russian S-400 Missile Defense System

A senior source in India's Ministry of Defense has reported that India will soon test the S-400 air defense missile system purchased from Russia. This information was provided by the Ani news agency.

"Very soon, we plan to fire at a rapidly moving aerial target using one of the short or medium-range missiles," stated a representative of the Indian Ministry of Defense.

According to him, the Russian missile system is equipped with missiles capable of destroying fighter jets or cruise missiles at distances of up to 400 kilometers. The Defense Ministry spokesperson also added that the Indian armed forces have operated the S-400 air defense system during tests in Russia, but the system has yet to be tested in India.

Earlier, it was reported that on March 1, India received the third batch of S-400 Triumph missile systems from Russia. The first two batches were received in December 2021 and April 2022 and are positioned to defend against threats from Pakistan and China.

Due to sanctions against Russia, India is exploring alternative ways to pay for its arms supply and maintenance from the Russian Federation.

By the end of 2023, India is expected to receive five batches of S-400 air defense systems.