New Highlights
As the war in Ukraine stretches over four months, it has given rise to apprehensions about Russia’s ability to adhere to timely deliveries of spares and hardware which causes issues in India-Russia defence relations.
An Issue Faced by India Due to Russia – Ukraine War
- The Indian defence sector faces a crunch in spare parts and authorities are expecting to end the war quickly.
- The reason arises that Russia is not able to supply the parts due to war.
Rupee – Rouble Payment Arrangement
- With Russia being shut out of the global SWIFT system for money transfers, India and Russia have agreed to conduct payments through the Rupee – Rouble arrangement.
- One such move made by both countries recently is for the S – 400 missile system when USA’s CAATSA threats prevail in 2018.
Major Deals Underway
- The defence trade between India and Russia has crossed $15 billion since 2018, that include S – 400 long-range air defence systems.
- Other major contracts currently under implementation are the
- Construction of four additional stealth frigates in Russia and India.
- Licensed production of the Mango Armor Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) rounds for the T90S tanks.
- The deals also include AK -203 assault rifles.
- For instance, the delivery of the second regiment of the S- 400 was delayed by a few months as also the operationalisation of the agreement for the manufacture of 6.1 lakh AK -203 rifles at Korwa, Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
- Other major deals include
- 21 MiG29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the upgradation of 59 existing Mig29 jets.
- Manufacture of 12 SU-30 MKI aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
- Another long-pending deal for the manufacture of 200 K226T utility helicopters in India
- A deal for six Ka31 early warning helicopters
- The bigger deal for IglaS very short-range air defence systems has also been deferred.
Evolution of India – Russia Relation
India-Russia Defence Relation
- India and Russia have a long-standing and broad partnership in defence, with Russia providing over 60% of India’s defence equipment.
- Procurement of Kiev class aircraft carrier ( INS Vikramaditya)
- Russia has made technology transfers to India for the production of weapons like the BrahMos Missile System, SU-30 aircraft, and T-90 tanks
- During the 20th Annual Bilateral Summit in Vladivostok in 2019, an agreement on cooperation in the production of spare parts for Russian and Soviet military equipment was inked.
- Indian procurement of weapons like Ka-226T helicopters, igla missiles, S – 400 air defence system.
- In 2019, the Indian Prime Minister announced the Indo-Russian Rifles Pvt. Ltd. Joint Venture for the production of AK Series Assault Rifles at Ordnance Factory Korwa as part of the ‘Make-in-India’ program in Amethi.
- Joint Exercise
- INDIRA – Army Exercise
- Avi INDIRA – Air Exercise
Content Source: The Hindu