Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov on Monday informed that India may become the first in line to buy the Russian air defence system S-500.

"India will probably be the first on the list if it expresses a desire to buy these modern means," Borisov said as quoted by Russian news agency Sputnik.

Russian Deputy PM also specified that Moscow would export the S-500s only after these systems are delivered to the Russian troops in the required quantity.

This also comes even as Moscow has already started the delivery of the S400 Triumf surface to air missile system to New Delhi. The deliveries are a part of the military agreement between India and Russia and the deal was signed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

Meanwhile, the United States has threatened to impose possible sanctions on India for the latter's military engagement with Russia.

In November, Washington has said that it had not made a determination on a potential waiver on CAATSA sanctions for India's purchase of the S400 missile defence system from Russia. It added that the United States will continue to have talks with India over the arms transactions with Russia.

"We have urged all of our allies and all of our partners to forego transactions with Russia that may risk triggering sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act)," said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on the question of sanction waiver for India.

On 20 July this year, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that the S-500 air defense system conducted a successful test-launch against a fast-moving ballistic target at the Kapustin Yar proving ground. The test-launch confirmed the S-500’s stated operational characteristics.

The S-500 anti-aircraft missile system is 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.

Image Credit: ANI/PTI/AP