Defence
deals will be the key topic of discussion during the forthcoming 17th edition
of the India-Russia annual summit.
Defence deals will be
the key topic of discussion during the forthcoming 17th edition of the
India-Russia annual summit. Besides upgrade of the Su-30 MKI and 28 Kamov
helicopters, agreements related to the purchase of the S-400 Triumf advanced
air defence missile system and an IL-78 multi-role tanker are on the list.
Also, both sides are
likely to sign an agreement on the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA)
project or the perspective multi-role fighter (PMF), the talks for which were
restarted this year.
According to sources,
joint development of Kamov Ka-226T light utility helicopters and the FGFA are
also being pushed to be under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
‘Make In India’
initiative.
A new company is
expected to be set up between the two countries for the Kamov Ka-226T
helicopter, to be implemented under ‘Make In India’, where 140 helicopters will
be made here under a contract estimated to be close to $1 billion.
Ready with a detailed work-share
agreement, the FGFA project between the two countries that was put on hold over
issues related to work-share, research and development, is expected to take off
again. Russia has agreed to share state-of-the-art technology as part of the
deal of producing at least 100 aircraft in India.
The Defence
Acquisition Council under defence minister Manohar Parrikar had cleared the
purchase of S-400 air defence systems from Russia in December 2015. However, no
final go-ahead has been sent to Moscow from New Delhi. If the deal on S-400s is
finalised during the summit, India will become the second country in the world
to have this latest missile and this will also be the biggest deal between the
two countries since 2011, when India had ordered 140 Su-30 MKI fighter planes.
PM Modi and Russian
President Vladimir Putin will be meeting for the annual summit during October
15-16, coinciding with the BRICS summit in Goa. This will be the third annual
bilateral summit where Putin and Modi will meet.
Russia lately has not
been able to meet India’s delivery schedule, and issues related to transfer of
technology and poor quality of spares are some of the problems India faces.
However, Russia has been India’s biggest arms supplier for decades, selling
military hardware worth $45 billion since early 1960s. Compared to Russia,
since 2007, the US has sold military hardware worth $15 billion to India.
While Russia is
helping India build indigenous nuclear submarine — though there has been no
confirmation from either side — India is in talks to lease a second Akula-class
nuclear-powered submarine from Russia.
“The price
negotiations for leasing the submarine is at an advanced stage and for about
$1.5 billion,” said a source.
Original post: financialexpress
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