Russia on Wednesday said the S-400 air defence system’s performance in Operation Sindoor was proof of the deep defence cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi, with envoy Roman Babushkin stressing that both countries were ready to work together as they have for decades.
The S-400 air defence system, which played a crucial role in the four-day Operation Sindoor between India and Pakistan, was yet another example of the close defence cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi, Roman Babushkin, Charge d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy, said on Tuesday.
Speaking to Times Now, Babushkin stressed that India and Russia were ready to continue working together as they have for decades. He pointed out that the S-400 system — credited with bringing down a Swedish-built Pakistan Air Force (PAF) airborne early warning and control (AEW) aircraft, as confirmed earlier by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh — had performed strongly during the crisis. The IAF currently has three S-400 units, with two more on the way.
Babushkin recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered Operation Sindoor. He added that Moscow would be open to contributing technology to India’s Sudarshan Chakra nationwide air defence system, targeted for 2035 as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address.
Given the proven success of the S-400, Russian weapons were a natural choice, Babushkin said. He underlined that Russia had supported “Make in India” long before it became an official slogan, citing joint work on jet engines and the fact that India-made components are already part of Sukhoi-30MKI fighter engines.