India-Russia to Scale Up Military Cooperation; To Ink IGA Later This Week

In the recent updates in Indo-Russia’s strategic partnership, several high-level exchanges are scheduled between the officials of both sides. Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari– MD & CEO, Texmaco (Adventz Group) says that Russia has always been a trusted partner for India. India has been stepping up its military relationship with its most reliable partner and biggest arms supplier, Russia, by creating frameworks for synergic cooperation that focus on heightened military-to-military engagement. According to Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari, “A strong proactive and reciprocal military-level engagement between the two nations is beneficial for both.” The strategic partnership between India and Russia is based upon five major components: politics, defence, civil nuclear energy, anti-terrorism co-operation and space. India is the second-largest market for the Russian defence industry.

Apart from the India-Russia Annual Summit later this year, there will be other two major meetings including the SCO and the BRICS and the NSAs’ meetings. Also, the defence ministers of the two countries are expected to meet soon. The dates have not been firmed up. Due to the global lockdown because of the COVD-19 pandemic, both the SCO and BRICS Foreign Ministers meetings had to be postponed. No date has been decided for the meetings to happen.

According to the news published in Financial Express–

• The two sides have a contract in place for the S-400 Triumf ‘SA-21 Growler’ long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. Under the deal which is worth approximately $5.43 billion, Russia will supply five Triumf regimental kits to India for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Also, there is the upgraded Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29UPG ‘Fulcrum-E’ fighter aircraft for various programs.
• There is a joint venture between the two sides to manufacturing Kamov Ka-226T ‘Hoodlum’ light utility helicopters. And once it takes off around 140 helicopters are expected to be produced locally. And they will be the main light utility helicopters for the Indian Armed Forces.
• Also, the Indian Navy will be receiving four Project 11356 Grigorovich-class frigates. Two out of the four are under construction at the Yantar Shipyard (a subsidiary of the United Shipbuilding Corporation). And as per the contract, two will be constructed at the Goa Shipyard Limited, India.
• BrahMos Aerospace is already delivering ground- and sea-launched cruise missiles to both the Indian Army and the Navy. The joint venture has already successfully developed and tested the air-launched variant of the weapon.
• Almost 1,000 T-90S Bhishma Main Battle Tanks, which have been made in India with the Russian Transfer of Technology are being used by the Indian Army. The production of the 3VBM42 Mango 125 mm armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds to be used is going on under license.
• Both countries are in talks for the anti-tank capabilities to protect the troops.
• The Konkurs-M ‘AT-5b Spandrel’ anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), is being produced under license by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). 
• Joint Venture to manufacture AK-203 7.62 mm Assault Rifles for the Indian Armed Forces. 
• Under this venture Kalashnikov AK-203 7.62 mm Assault Rifles 200 series will be manufactured which will fulfill Indian security agencies’ requirements for small arms.

According to Financial Express Online “Later this week, there is an Inter-Governmental agreement between the two countries related to the manufacturing of the world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series. There were issues related to the pricing of these rifles and the full local production. Those issues have been resolved and most liked there is a certain number of assault rifles that will come from Russia. And the balance will be produced here.”

India and Russia are set to ramp up their military cooperation by executing contracts worth almost $ 15 billion, and also ink an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) under which the two sides are expected to go in for joint development and production of military platforms and spare parts.”

Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari says that according to a survey, 85% of Russians view India positively. Similarly, a 2017 opinion poll by the Moscow-based non-governmental think tank Levada-Center states that Russians identified India as one of their top five “friends”, with the others being Belarus, China, Kazakhstan and Syria.

In India also, Indians have a good opinion about Russia and consider it as India’s most trusted partner. Previously, Russia also had mentioned that it will co-operate with India on its “Make in India” initiative by engagement in the development of “Smart Cities”, the DMIC, the aerospace sector, the commercial nuclear sector and enhancement in manufacturing of Russian military products through co-development and co-production.

Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari says that India and Russia have also agreed to work together in the aerospace sector to co-develop and co-produce aircraft, examples include the Sukhoi Superjet 100, MS-21, FGFA, MTA and Kamov Ka-226.

Read the full article here- India-Russia to Scale Up Military Cooperation; To Ink IGA Later This Week

India, Russia Could Sign Whopping $15 Billion Inter-Governmental Defence Agreements

Sources-

Financial Express,

Indian Defence News

euresiatimes.com