Rostec Corporation CEO Sergei Chemezov has confirmed that Russia was forced to destroy all delivered to China S-400 missile after a vessel transporting these got caught in a storm.
Speaking at a press conference at the IDEX 2019 military exhibition, Chemezov said that Russia had long ago signed a contract with China for the supply of S-400 systems with anti-aircraft missiles, according to RBC.ru report.
“The contract had been signed a long time ago. The shipment would’ve been carried by now, but regrettably, the ship that was carrying the missiles was hit by a storm. We were forced to eliminate all those missiles to make new ones instead,” he said, according to news agency RBC.ru.
A vessel with S-400 systems and missiles on board, which came out of Ust-Luga (Leningrad region) in the English Channel areal caught in a storm. In conditions of strong wind and pitching, the holding equipment of the attachment could not stand it, and part of the equipment was severely damaged.
According to Chemezov, now new missiles are being manufactured in Russia, which will be sent to China.
Defense Editor for Aviation Week Steve Trimble later on its Twitter account has released the transcript of the exchange with Rostec CEO Chemezov about the S-400 system delivered to China.
For reference, here’s the transcript of my exchange with Rostec CEO Chemezov about the S-400 system delivered to China. I just wanted to confirm that the shipment included the 40N6 missile. pic.twitter.com/L4EgwMNjaU
— Steve Trimble (@TheDEWLine) 18 February 2019
The contract for the supply of at least six S-400 divisions to China valued at up to $3 billion.
China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system.
Russia says the S-400 is a cutting-edge air defense system that can detect and shoot down targets including ballistic missiles, enemy jets, and drones up to 600 kilometres away at an altitude between 10 meters and 27 kilometers.