Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria has categorically rejected the reports about delay in induction of much needed S-400 air missile defence system. ACM Bhadauria told to the Indian Express.

Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria has categorically rejected the reports about delay in induction of much needed S-400 air missile defence system.

He said India and Russia have been optimising the delivery schedule which will make the induction process quicker.

“The S400 is not delayed as has been reported, but the programme delivery schedule is being optimised in coordination with the Russian side to enable us to operationalise the weapon system quicker,” Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said while providing details about the force’s renewed focus on readiness and operational training.

Earlier, Indian media reported about the delay in the “game-changing” system which was based on a statement made by Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin in New Delhi during which he said that the delivery of all S-400 air defence missile systems will be completed by 2025.

The statement by Babushkin surprised journalists and defence watchers in Delhi, as India's defence ministry had previously announced on several occasions that the deliveries of the system will commence from October 2020 and will be completed by April 2023.

India had placed an order of five units of the S-400 missile defence system during the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit held in New Delhi in October 2018. The Russian side had confirmed that production of the system has already begun and the training of Indian specialists will start very soon.