India-Russia: News & Analysis

[habal]

ramzan kadyrov's darbar for chechen ISIS supporters in chechnya

Wahhabis fresh from Syria interrogated in front of their families in Chechnya.

[youtube]paHSW0qazME#t=1348[/youtube]

[habal]

Sputnik was the name given to the world's first orbiting sat (in this epoch of human history).

Talk about Ripley's "Believe it or not"!

Second Time Lucky? France Says It Is Ready to Sell New Ships to Russia

09:51 14.10.2015
French president Francois Hollande says Paris is looking to sell new ships to Russia; the announcement comes after France cancelled a long-standing deal for Mistral-class helicopter carriers originally built for Russia, eventually re-selling the warships to Egypt.

France is looking to sell new ships to Russia in the future, French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday during his visit to the shipyard of Saint-Nazaire in western France.

"Things went well with Russia, which has agreed to cancel the contract. And I even think we'll get partnerships for new ships," Hollande said.

He didn't specify whether they would be military ships. Neither did he say if Russia is willing to buy anything from France in the future.

The French president came aboard one of the warships, originally named the Vladivostok, in reference to the Russian port. The inscription on the hull has been erased and replaced by grey paint.

The Mistral sale was supposed to be the biggest arms sale ever by a NATO country to Russia, until the deal fell apart because of the Ukraine crisis.

The Mistral-class helicopter carrier Vladivostok is seen at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire

Russian Firm Offers to Fit Egypt’s Mistral Ships With Electronics, Radar
France refunded the 950 million euros ($1 billion) already paid by Russia and sold the ships to Egypt, which signed a 950 million-euro contract last week.

Egypt emerged as France’s replacement customer for the Mistrals in September 2015.

"I had to sell them to a country that needed to ensure its own security but didn't threaten anyone," Hollande said.

The ships are supposed to arrive in Egypt in summer 2016 but first they should be de-equipped of Russian-developed command, control and communication systems.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/world/20151014/1 ... z3oi3Q7ERM

France used to produce top diplomats and politicians for 200 yrs, actually the best in class indeed.
Now France is showing the world the best comedian and clown there is, almost unbeatable in his jokes!
Francois Hollande!!!!! Who else ?

[Vipul]

Russia hoping to export 3 Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates to India.

Russia is hoping to find an export customer for the final three Admiral Grigorovich-class (Project 11356M) frigates currently being built for the Russian Navy, a source told IHS Jane's.

"The Defence Ministry is reallocating the money, initially set aside for the other three frigates, to the construction of other ships it badly needs. Meetings of Defence Ministry and Federal Military Technical Co-operation Service officials suggested that a solution could be to export the ships," the source said.

The vessels are being constructed at the Kaliningrad-based Yantar Shipyard and use a Ukrainian Zorya-Mashproyekt gas-turbine propulsion plant. While Russia has already received the propulsion systems for the first three vessels, Ukraine's termination of defence exports to Russia has left the final three without their turbines.

Saturn was to build alternative M90FP turbines for the class under Russia's import substitution programme. However these cannot be completed before 2019-2020, with this further delay to an already delayed build programme not suiting the Russian Navy.

While Ukraine will not supply the engines to Russia, the option is open for an export customer to acquire the vessels from Russia and the engines separately from Ukraine.

The Indian Navy has expressed an interest in receiving three Admiral Grigorovich-class vessels, which are based on its six Russian-built Talwar-class frigates. However, in July India noted it was looking to licence-build the design in India, rather than to purchase them already built. It is not clear whether India has now changed its aims to licence-build the vessels, or whether it may look to do both.

The first-of-class Admiral Grigorovich is currently conducting state sea trials, and is expected to be delivered to the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in November (two years behind schedule).

[Cosmo_R]

"While Ukraine will not supply the engines to Russia, the option is open for an export customer to acquire the vessels from Russia and the engines separately from Ukraine."

Great, the plan is slough off the the Ukrainian inability to deliver as unwillingness to deliver to Russia. We get to buy hulls and wait for the propulsion system. The Russkies must must think we are really stupid. Maybe we are.

If we get the hulls 10 cents on the dollar then we've got room to play. Else it;s another Viky.

[NRao]

^^^^^
The story is a little more complicated. It goes that Russia ordered six with the intent to convince India to buy three. That the Russians did not need all six.

The Ukrainian story placed a wrench in their plans.


However, does India need three more from a foreign vendor? Impression was to build them in India.

[Cain Marko]

ramzan kadyrov's darbar for chechen ISIS supporters in chechnya

Wahhabis fresh from Syria interrogated in front of their families in Chechnya.

[youtube]paHSW0qazME#t=1348[/youtube]

What the heck is Kadyrov saying....all I can make out is "ustada and shuyukh" a reference, I am guessing, to the Sufi teachers that the Chechens set great store by and the Wahabbis absolutely despise. Man those prisoners look positively terrified...

[Austin]

Russia's Rusnano to create $2-billion fund to invest in Indo-Russian defence joint ventures

Russian sovereign wealth fund Rusnano Management Company will create a $2-billion (Rs 13,000 crore) fund with equal contribution from Indian financial institutions to invest in joint venture companies formed between the two countries which will develop defence and aerospace equipment with high-end technology , two persons with direct knowledge of the development said.

"We will invest up to 49% in the joint venture company and the rest will be owned by the Indian partner," said one of the persons."We will also transfer critical technology to the joint venture in both defence and aerospace. The entire plan is part of the Make In India initiative."

[A_Gupta]

Prof. Paul Robinson on Russia and the East:
https://irrussianality.wordpress.com/20 ... -the-east/

While the Muslim world was more advanced than Western Europe, Europeans don’t seem to have looked up to it as something to emulate. Rather it was for many centuries a civilization to be feared, and then once it ceased to be feared (roughly from the relief of the siege of Vienna in 1683 onwards) it became something to look down upon. As European power spread around the world in the era of colonialism, the West acquired a belief in its own superiority and others’ inferiority, which to some extent persists to this day and is reflected in the foreign policy obsession with spreading Western liberal democratic norms around the world.

Russia, by contrast, rarely saw the East in quite such negative colours. Although the great philosopher Vladimir Solovyov pronounced his fears about the ‘yellow peril’ which he believed would destroy Russia, on the whole Russians worried more about dangers coming from the West. After all, most of the great invasions which have ravaged Russia have come from that direction. The one exception is the Mongols, but despite the myth of the ‘Mongol yoke’, contemporary accounts of Mongol rule depict it as actually rather mild. Furthermore, Russian rulers, far from despising Mongol administration as inferior, regarded it as a model of power and efficiency to be copied. It is notable that Alexander Nevskii in the mid-13th century chose to make peace with the Mongols, but to fight the Germans. The Mongols, after all, only wanted tribute; the Teutonic Knights sought to forcibly convert others to Catholicism. Given a choice between conquest from the east or conquest from the west, the east looked preferable.

[Cosmo_R]

Russians allow us into their science projects.

Nuff said

[Philip]

Our shipyards are faced with delays to almost all major warship orders.It is only the small patrol craft,interceptors for the CG,etc.,that are on schedule. Buying the 3 Grigs/Talwars would be a wise decision,as it would immediately beef up the IN's capabilities esp. as the Sino-Pak JV is to build 8 new Yuan AIP subs asap.This is not a Gorky type deal,no major modification reqd. In addition,the ships could be tweaked to fire both BMos and Nirbhay (still needing some dev.),keeping in mind the latest RuN salvoes fired in the Syrian conflict. If the ships come with a discount,why not?

[Agnimitra]

X-post from EU thread:

There's a theory floating around that Greece being brought to its knees and owned by the 'West' was a part of the Western strategy against Orthodox Christianity (Russia).

[NRao]

Data point:

After Rafale, Parrikar not Convinced on FGFA

Defence Analyst Ranesh Rajan believes that Parrikar seems to have made up his mind to support Indian indigenous programmes to fix long term Indian Air force woes of depleting fighter aircraft jets, rather than going for short term purchase of aircrafts from abroad. Rajan also added that as per his sources Parrikar was the force behind MK-1A project who brought all stakeholders in the same platform and sorted out mistrust and convinced IAF to support Indigenous projects.

Big “No” for India Air forces repeated request to expand Current Rafale fighter jets order from 36 to 80 came from Parrikar who was not convinced that Procurement of only Rafale jets will be the only saviour for India or Airforce ,he reportedly asked to neither consider ordering small batch of additional Sukhois or go for Tejas in larger numbers informed Defence Analyst Ranesh Rajan.

[Karan M]

Who is Ranesh Ranjan? Another 20 year old analyst pulled out by IDRW?

[Hitesh]

Now Parrikar is thinking my way!!

[Austin]

Trade turnover between Russia, India to reach $30 bln by 2025 — Deputy PM
http://tass.ru/en/economy/830344

Business & Economy
October 20, 18:34 UTC+3

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Trade turnover between Russia and India may reach $30 bln by 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said at a meeting of Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on Tuesday.

"The issue is about reaching $30 bln worth of mutual trade turnover and $15 bln worth of mutual investment by 2025," Rogozin said.

Deputy Prime Minister also said the Russian government is taking steps to create favorable conditions for developing trade, economic and investment cooperation, particularly free trade agreement, agreement on mutual stimulation and protection of investment, on payments in national currencies, on admitting certifications of conformity and education and diploma standards. Rogozin added that the cooperation program in oil and gas sector has been launched.

Russian export center must become "single window" of economic interaction between Russia and India

According to Rogozin Russia’s export center must become a "single window" of economic interaction between Russia and India.

"The modern times makes it necessary to simplify and accelerate the processes of public administration, the development of economic institutions to support and stimulate economic activities, the development of one-window system. We should do everything what is needed to ensure that our agencies work in comfortable, red-tape free conditions. I would like to note that the newly created Russian export center should become such a window for the development of foreign economic relations," Rogozin said.

Rogozin said that relations between Russia and India had shown a steady development over the years. According to him, Russia is ready to support India and actively participate in the implementation of large-scale projects on developing the country's economy.

"Russia is ready to assist India in nuclear energy development, upgrade of thermal power plants, metallurgical and machine-building companies, exploration, mining, construction of gas pipelines, power lines, rail infrastructure, rolling stock, aircraft and helicopter, the peaceful use of space, the development of modern means of communication, the creation of "smart cities", the construction of industrial facilities, construction and creation of modern systems of water treatment, the development of medical equipment and medicines, training of qualified personnel," the deputy prime minister said.


Russia, India eye expansion of trade in national currencies

First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexey Likhachev said India and Russia would like to expand bilateral trade in national currencies, but the banking systems are not yet ready for being actively involved in this process.

"This is a burning issue. Our banking systems are not ready to actively respond to the request. We would like to expand it [trade in national currencies -TASS]," he said.

According to him, the use of national currencies would increase the volume of trade because it allows the parties to avoid currency fluctuations.

"It's much more comfortable for entrepreneurs, significantly reduces transaction expenses and reduces costs," Likhachev said.

[NRao]

Who is Ranesh Ranjan? Another 20 year old analyst pulled out by IDRW?

You have A point.

An ubiquitous, very low RCS guy.

[Karan M]

Russians allow us into their science projects.

Nuff said

Which is what India wants.. otherwise, its merely screwdriver assembly.. joint development is a science project which is then used to produce a workable system

[Austin]

India, Russia to strategise economic ties under “Druzhba-Dosti” vision
22 October 2015 Dadan Upadhyay, specially for RIR

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Russian counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin signed a protocol on Tuesday, at the end of their talks within the framework of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

Swaraj led a high-powered Indian delegation to the 21st meeting of IRIGC-TEC to prepare a strategy to implement the joint “Druzhba-Dosti” vision of President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through concrete initiatives in different fields of bilateral trade and economic cooperation over the next decade.

Swaraj and Rogozin cochaired the meeting, which included high-level officials from both sides. The IRIGC-TEC is a key institutional mechanism to promote and strengthen India’s “special and privileged strategic partnership” with Russia. During the meeting, the sides focused on the main issue of working out a plan to bolster strategic partnership between the two countries.

Swaraj also held bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to fine-tune the agenda of Putin-Modi summit in December, in Moscow. While both the leaders have met a couple of times, at the sidelines of multilateral summits this year, they will review and supervise the progress in realizing the “Druzhba-Dosti” vision, at their bilateral annual summit, a source told RIR.

Speaking about the importance of the recent protocol, the External Affairs Ministry’s spokesman Vikas Swarup said that the protocol carried forward the spirit of Druzhba-Dosti vision. “Carrying forward the Druzhba-Dosti, Swaraj and Rogozin signed the protocol for the 21st session of IRIGC-TEC,” Swarup noted.

The current situation in the sphere of bilateral trade and investment was high on the agenda of the IRIGC-TEC. The sides discussed the issues related to trade and investment, and decided different measures to boost economic ties between the two countries. A number of joint working groups and sub-groups had already submitted their reports, highlighting the problems to be discussed and resolved.

In view of the fact that the sides had already expressed their desire to shift to rupee-ruble trade and are conducting talks to reach an earliest agreement, the issue of trade and investment, including transition to bilateral trade in national currencies, was high on the agenda of the Moscow meeting.

Addressing the commission, Rogozin said, “The the issue is about achieving the bilateral annual trade turnover of $30 billion and $15 billion of mutual investment by 2025.” The trade turnover in 2014 was $10 billion.

He said that Russia was taking “steps to create favourable conditions for developing trade, economic and investment cooperation, particularly free trade agreement, agreement on mutual stimulation and protection of investment, on payments in national currencies, on admitting certifications of conformity and education and diploma standards.”

In particular, he mentioned oil and gas, nuclear energy and renewable energy as the priority areas of bilateral cooperation. “The cooperation program in oil and gas sector has already been launched,” Rogozin noted.

He said that Russia was also ready to assist India in nuclear energy development, upgrade of thermal power plants, metallurgical and machine-building companies, exploration, mining, construction of gas pipelines, power lines, railways infrastructure, rolling stock, aircraft and helicopter, the peaceful use of space, the development of modern means of communication and the creation of "Smart Cities.”

Rogozin also assured that Russia was ready to support India and actively participate in the implementation of large-scale projects to develop Indian economy, in near future.

However, in his remark, Russian First Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Alexei Likhachev stressed on the main difficulty the sides are facing in the transition to the bilateral trade and investment in their national currencies.

Likhachev said although the two counties want to shift to trade in their national currencies, their banking systems are not yet ready for being actively involved in the process. “This is a burning issue. Our banking systems are not ready to actively respond to the request. We would like to expand trade in national currencies,” he said.

An anonymous source said that the sides exchanged opinions on this issue and decided to speed up the transition process to rupee-ruble trade. “It may take some time before the sides work out a concrete mechanism to transition to mutual trade in national currencies of India and Russia,” he added.

According to sources, as a first move towards rupee-ruble trade, India and Russia may organize exchange trading of the two national currencies in each other’s country.

On her part, Swaraj said that Russia had always cooperated with India in developing its economy. "Russia occupies a special part in the heart of every Indian. The strength of our unique strategic partnership with Russia withstood the test of time. I am confident that this special bond that India and Russia share will strengthen every year as we deepen our cooperation and expand it and develop it to new avenues and options,” she said.

“India and Russia are natural partners in the legacy of excellent cooperation in key sectors such as nuclear energy, defence and space. However Russia can be an even bigger partner in India's development process as a source of technology, machinery, equipment and knowhow," Swaraj noted.

Referring to the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Russia-led Customs Union, she said that India attached great importance to developing the cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC), which will help the expansion of trade and investments with Russia.

Swaraj said that Modi’s “Make in India” proram has created an immensely positive atmosphere to facilitate investment in India. She said that Modi and Putin have identified strong economic relations as a key priority area in the Indo-Russian strategic partnership.

In his opening remark at the bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart, Lavrov said that Swaraj’s visit to Moscow would give an additional impetus to the development of agreements between Putin and Modi. "The privileged partnership between our countries is a unique achievement of our peoples,” he noted.

He also referred to the coming visit of Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to cochair the meeting ofIndia-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military, Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), in early November. In a way, Swaraj’s visit also prepared the ground for India-Russia defence cooperation talks to further strengthen strategic ties.

On her part, Swaraj said that Russia was a tried and tested friend of India. "If we talk about the bilateral relations, Russia is our proven true friend. This notion of our friendship we see not only at the governmental level, but at the level of our people also,” she said.

In order to give an additional impetus to raise the level of trade, economic and investment ties, Rogozin invited Swaraj to visit Russia in July, to participate in the international industrial exhibition “Innoprom 2016” in Yekaterinburg. The invitation was accepted by Swaraj.

[Malayappan]

Bharat Karnad weighs in -
http://bharatkarnad.com/2015/10/23/raining-trouble/
He says -

Sushma Swaraj in Moscow ..... got a proper, if cold, reception

depending on how things progress or don’t, Russia’s participation in sensitive strategic DRDO and DAE projects will be re-thought

In conclusion

Combine this considerable Pakistani political-diplomatic success with India being unmoored from its historical Russian military technology anchor, and what one can see India heading towards a strategic crash-landing. Tighten your seat belts!

[Yagnasri]

I seriously wonder if Rassia is interested to let India into western side. I mean why they shall let a nation which is otherwise friendly to them go and join their opposition side by doing stupid things. If these is no support for stratigic programme like Indian SSBN project then the relationship is truely downgraded into a low level one. There is hardly any trade as of now. We have not taken any anti Russia side even during Ukranian crises. If Indians want any western arms, it is nothing new. Even during the USSR days we have purchased Jaguar and Mirage 2000. So why it shall be objectionable now.

As for as selling things to Pakis, let them sell and get payment from Pakis. I am sure Saudis and Uncle giving money to pakis so that Putin can be paid.

[JE Menon]

Scaremongering from BK. I was not aware that Russia was tied up with us for charitable reasons. This is a two-way street. If Russia can sell and buy from China, and can engage across the board economically with the US (last year their bilateral trade was $33 bn, a bit more than where we plan to be in 10 years time) - it can do the same with us, and we can do the same with them. We are friends, have been for a long time, and will continue to be. The nature of the friendship is one on the basis of mutual respect, and consideration of each other's strategic and commercial interest. All these have been demonstrated over decades. We are just a more powerful India now than they knew, and this requires some mutual adjustment. It will be done. But this whining tone of "what will happen now, Russia will not be our friend anymore" is both unseemly and exaggerated. And embarrassing.

[Yagnasri]

Some national establishments in nations like UK and US may not like a new confident India. Even then they are all lining up to do business with us. Russia also known that a couple of decades from now India will be a major help to it if the relations are kept in good condition. Even now Russia needs all the friends it can get.

[NRao]

Data point.

IMHO if true, India has about arrived.

I had expected a more serious item to bargain, but .....

India seeks S-400 missile systems; Moscow may link deal to FGFA project

Not PAK-FA. The big bucks is what Russia wants. Or needs. The 25 billion commitment.

[NRao]

Thought this was resolved. ?????

Parrikar to raise Sukhoi's serviceability issues with Russia

[Karan M]

Scaremongering from BK. But this whining tone of "what will happen now, Russia will not be our friend anymore" is both unseemly and exaggerated. And embarrassing.

Well said. If the Russians wish to play hardball, at a time when they are at their nadir in recent years, economically, they are more stupid than one would suspect. I think its more a case of Karnad resorting to hyperbole on their behalf and they are not as silly as he makes them out to be.

[JwalaMukhi]

Well, lest it be forgotten, Russia is even more invested in preserving the current world order than US. Russians are more loyal than the pope to the current "global order". Of course, the present "global order" dearly suits the US and to somewhat acceptable to China. Remember why Russians stealthily sabotaged India's bid to reform the UN, the reason being this sorry state of UN needs to be preserved for Russia to maintain some semblance of being a playa.

That being said, Russia likes being the top beta or gamma dog(not alpha) and is struggling to retain its order in the totem pole. Lets be clear they do not have the wherewithal to be the top alpha dog. Being alpha requires much more than what they have and can create and they are clearly not aiming to be one.

The natural order would only gravitate to three powers namely US, China and India, not necessarily in order.
Russia is just upping its ante to work out a better deal for pre-nup and post-divorce settlement with US after its nikkah. For example, both of them agreed to amicable dating scene over the syrian skies recently. No Russia is not going to a shooting war with US, it is just working to ensure it remains relevant in the global order and its best bet is preserve and perpetuate the current one. Else, they will turn out to be like the United Queendom, which is now 24th province of China, from originally being 51st state of US (Israel is 52nd).
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-ame ... d-shortly/

The Pentagon said Tuesday that the U.S. and Russia had signed a memorandum of understanding over safety procedures for aircraft flying over Syria.

The memo includes specific protocols for air crews to follow over Syria, and establishes of ground communications link.

Late last week, as the final details were being negotiated, a Russian SU-30 Flanker jet fighter came within 1,500 feet of two American aircraft, the closest approach since Russia started flying airstrikes, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

But there are enough babucracy and Russia-philes who would like to toe the Russian line. Nothing wrong with that, but most of their love for Russia turns towards forgetting the Indian interests and turning blind.

[Mort Walker]

Scaremongering from BK. I was not aware that Russia was tied up with us for charitable reasons. This is a two-way street. If Russia can sell and buy from China, and can engage across the board economically with the US (last year their bilateral trade was $33 bn, a bit more than where we plan to be in 10 years time) - it can do the same with us, and we can do the same with them. We are friends, have been for a long time, and will continue to be. The nature of the friendship is one on the basis of mutual respect, and consideration of each other's strategic and commercial interest. All these have been demonstrated over decades. We are just a more powerful India now than they knew, and this requires some mutual adjustment. It will be done. But this whining tone of "what will happen now, Russia will not be our friend anymore" is both unseemly and exaggerated. And embarrassing.

There may be some truth to it. The Russians know India is strategically weak relative to China and feel they can pressure India. Total trade with India for consumer goods, power production, energy, space and military is going down as well. In fact I don't know if India is even a top 20 trading partner of Russia, the Americans may be ahead even there! The Russians may feel there is nothing to lose if India is arm twisted, as it has to come back to Russia for the things it has already bought.

[NRao]

We are just a more powerful India now than they knew, and this requires some mutual adjustment.

IMHO, THE understatement of the year.

I am betting that this rise of India is not sitting well there. However, neither has India managed it well under very recently.

But, this is very good for India.

[JE Menon]

^^Yes, a lot of people are missing this delicate point. India/Russia of 1980 was not India/Russia of 2000 (barely 10 yrs of economic reform on our side), and certainly not India/Russia of 2015. That said, Russia is and has been a friend, and will continue to be a friend. Both parties need to make some adjustments, but it's not that difficult as it's being made out to be by BK. It is clearly time for Indian analysts also to stop thinking reactively. We have to start thinking of how to make the world in the way we want it to be.

Sure, Russia may be upset about this or that. India may be upset about this or that. But we're big boys, we'll find ways to work things out and get along. There's a lot riding on it for both of us. Just saying Russia will stop supplying spares, or start selling to Pakistan is frankly beside the point. If Russia stops supplying spares, whom does it hurt in the long term? As for relations with Pakistan, that is Russia's prerogative no? Let the build ties with Pakistan. What about it? We'll have to deal with it? We'll have to deal with a lot of such issues going forward. Get ready.

[vishvak]

Data point.

IMHO if true, India has about arrived.

I had expected a more serious item to bargain, but .....

India seeks S-400 missile systems; Moscow may link deal to FGFA project

Not PAK-FA. The big bucks is what Russia wants. Or needs. The 25 billion commitment.

Point is, is the capability good enough - the S-400 missile systems are top of the line as it is. PAK-FA/FGFA purchase has been discussed long and some monies would have been already planned for future acquisition. It is not like we purchase something from a non-Russian source and nothing is ever allocated and come out of nowhere for any govt-to-govt deals. Probably marine radar systems is something India and Russia can deepen co-operation literally.

[Mort Walker]

Harsh Conditions are Foiling Russian Jets in Syria

Before the brickbats start flying, there maybe some element of truth to this. This story is relevant since it is in regard to the Su-30.

David Deptula, a retired three-star Air Force general who led planning for the air war in Operation Desert Storm, said the rates for American fighters in combat zones has been above 90%. The readiness rate of 70% for Russian fighters isn't surprising, he said, because they lack experience being deployed and have been flying their jets hard. He called their rates for cargo planes, "pretty low."

[Vipul]

Russia, India Finalizing Deal on PAK FA Fifth-Generation Jets.

During the upcoming annual Indo-Russian summit, an agreement is expected to be inked on the delivery of Sukhoi T-50 (PAK FA) fighter jets to India under the joint FGFA initiative, The Financial Express reported citing a senior military official.

The fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) programme is based on the Russian-made Sukhoi T-50 aircraft. It involves Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

According to the source, the agreement will include a fixed order for 154 jets, work share and a commitment to the number of single-seat and double-seat aircraft.

"Given the current situation, where the Indian Air Force (IAF) is in deep trouble due to its fast depleting force structure, the Indian government will need to take well thought out decision with long-term and strategic foresight. There is no doubt that the PAK-FA (Sukhoi Design Proposal) will be emerge as a major FGFA in the world. Hence, it would be better for India to take a reality check on the FGFA and recalibrate its position," the source told The Financial Times.

In January, it was reported that Russia and India agreed on the project of the FGFA jet fighter. In February, Russia’s Rosoboronexport said all technical details had been settled, and the commercial part of the deal was in discussion.

The Sukhoi/HAL project is meant to radically upgrade India's air strength through the combination of Russian expertise and Indian financing.

Russia’s fifth-generation Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA fighter jet, known in India as FGFA, is equipped with an advanced defense system that can neutralize an enemy plane’s stealth capability.

According to Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, the two countries have already injected about 230 million dollars into the FGFA project, which is based on the development of the T-50 aircraft.

The FGFA, which is expected to be armed with weapons of Indian origin, will fly at a speed of 2,300 kilometers per hour and will have a range of 3,800 kilometers.

[Vipul]

Russia May Link Sale of S-400 to India With Fighter Development.

The Indian Air Force has asked the Ministry of Defence to buy unknown numbers of S-400 Triumf air defense systems from Russia, but Russian diplomats here said Moscow is unlikely to agree until India clarifies its position on the joint Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program.

A final agreement on development of the FGFA is still pending despite an initial agreement inked in 2010 because the Indian Air Force still has not finalized how many aircraft it would order, and because work-share issues between India and Russia on production of the FGFA are not settled. India will release its share of $10 billion toward development of the FGFA — which is based on the Russian T-50 platform and is in the prototype stage —only after final agreement is approved.

A Russian diplomat, however, said Moscow wants greater clarity on whether the ruling Narendra Modi government would proceed with joint development of the FGFA or limit its purchases of the aircraft. The diplomat, however, would not say if there would be a trade-off between the S-400 and the FGFA deal.

The Indian Air Force made a request to MoD early this month to buy the S-400 system, a Defence Ministry source said, adding that the request will be on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's wish list when he visits Moscow next month. India proposes to buy the S-400 through a government-to-government deal, the source added.

The Air Force wants the S-400 to fill holes in its fledgling air defense systems and provide capability to strike multiple targets, including ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft, said an Air Force official. The S-400 Triumf can intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers and simultaneously engage up to six targets.

"The intention to go ahead with the purchase of S-400 Triumf indicates that the homegrown capability to build an effective anti-missile missile system is not in sight in the near future," said defense analyst Nitin Mehta.

India is developing its own anti-missile system that includes the Prithvi for high-altitude interception (above 75 kilometers) and the Advanced system for low-altitude interception (below 15 kilometers).

The first phase of the system, which will be able to kill ballistic missiles at a range of 2,000 kilometers, was scheduled to have been in operation by 2012. No official from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is developing the Prithvi system, would comment whether the system is in operation.

The MoD source said that the second phase of the system, intended to provide the capability to kill missiles at a range of 5,000 kilometers, is now in development. The source would not comment on whether Phase 1 is in operation.

In addition, India and Israel are developing a medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) project, which would have a range of 70 kilometers, but the project has been delayed by more than three years, and no MoD official would comment about when it would be completed.

The Indo-Israeli MRSAM is being jointly developed by India's DRDO and Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries of Israel.

Another project being developed jointly with the Israelis is a long-range surface-to-air missile, which would have a range of more than 100 kilometers and is meant for the Indian Navy. This effort is also over two years behind schedule.

[Philip]

There are a lot of "unripe fruit" in the Kremlin orchard. FGFAs,Akula subs/N-sub tech,ABM systems,the MTA,Super-Sukhoi dev.,BMos-M,etc.,etc. One would presume that a lot of the key ones are connected.Once the cards are laid on the table.,we have to make up our minds about which dishes we pick up from the buffet-fir which we can pay for and which we can't.

[rsingh]

Russia May Link Sale of S-400 to India With Fighter Development.

The Indian Air Force has asked the Ministry of Defence to buy unknown numbers of S-400 Triumf air defense systems from Russia, but Russian diplomats here said Moscow is unlikely to agree until India clarifies its position on the joint Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program.

A final agreement on development of the FGFA is still pending despite an initial agreement inked in 2010 because the Indian Air Force still has not finalized how many aircraft it would order, and because work-share issues between India and Russia on production of the FGFA are not settled. India will release its share of $10 billion toward development of the FGFA — which is based on the Russian T-50 platform and is in the prototype stage —only after final agreement is approved.

A Russian diplomat, however, said Moscow wants greater clarity on whether the ruling Narendra Modi government would proceed with joint development of the FGFA or limit its purchases of the aircraft. The diplomat, however, would not say if there would be a trade-off between the S-400 and the FGFA deal.

The Indian Air Force made a request to MoD early this month to buy the S-400 system, a Defence Ministry source said, adding that the request will be on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's wish list when he visits Moscow next month. India proposes to buy the S-400 through a government-to-government deal, the source added.

The Air Force wants the S-400 to fill holes in its fledgling air defense systems and provide capability to strike multiple targets, including ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft, said an Air Force official. The S-400 Triumf can intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers and simultaneously engage up to six targets.

"The intention to go ahead with the purchase of S-400 Triumf indicates that the homegrown capability to build an effective anti-missile missile system is not in sight in the near future," said defense analyst Nitin Mehta.

India is developing its own anti-missile system that includes the Prithvi for high-altitude interception (above 75 kilometers) and the Advanced system for low-altitude interception (below 15 kilometers).

The first phase of the system, which will be able to kill ballistic missiles at a range of 2,000 kilometers, was scheduled to have been in operation by 2012. No official from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is developing the Prithvi system, would comment whether the system is in operation.

The MoD source said that the second phase of the system, intended to provide the capability to kill missiles at a range of 5,000 kilometers, is now in development. The source would not comment on whether Phase 1 is in operation.

In addition, India and Israel are developing a medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) project, which would have a range of 70 kilometers, but the project has been delayed by more than three years, and no MoD official would comment about when it would be completed.

The Indo-Israeli MRSAM is being jointly developed by India's DRDO and Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries of Israel.

Another project being developed jointly with the Israelis is a long-range surface-to-air missile, which would have a range of more than 100 kilometers and is meant for the Indian Navy. This effort is also over two years behind schedule.

There is film "Maskva slukham ni verit" or Moscow does't believe in rumors. you need to watch it.

[rsingh]

When ever we talk of buying military hardware from some country, one thing come to my mind. Is it possible for the seller country (say france) to instal some software which can not be detected but could be activated any time to track the hardware or self destroy . Malaysian plane that disappeared was being constantly monitored by engine manufacturers (in UK) without knowledge of airline,Malaysian govt or IATA.

[panduranghari]

I liked these 2 articles. Good reads.

Modi's Game and True Meaning of Multipolarity

The personal chemistry on display between Obama and Modi and the strength of their symbolic statements about the other have left many scratching their heads about the political game that the Indian Prime Minister is playing. It’s all rather simple, really, since India has historically been an archetypical multipolar state that works with all players (including unipolar ones), but it has never been a Resistant & Defiant (R&D) one dedicated to upending the unipolar world order.

To put the picture more clearly into focus, let’s take a look at some of India’s most noteworthy multipolar and unipolar interactions, before exploring the key differences between multipolar and R&D states.

RUSSIA- India’s non-alignment nowadays seeks to balance between the unipolar and multipolar worlds, hence why it retained its privileged relationship with Russia and seeks to develop it well into the future.............Modi was thumbing his nose at the unipolar world by showing that his country won’t shy away from the West’s self-designated ‘pariah’ and will happily conduct business with it should there be a mutual benefit.

IRAN - Iran wants to reinforce this trend by inviting mapmore Indian companies to do business in the country, and if the proposed Oman-Iran-India undersea gas pipeline goes forward, then Iran can even serve as a nexus bringing Azeri and Turkmen gas (and their respective non-energy exports) to the Indian subcontinent............ just as Russia can serve as a bridge between Europe and East Asia, so too can Iran serve as a bridge for India to Central Asia and further afield, hence its strategic importance in Indian strategic planning. Through this understanding, India’s relations with Russia and Iran are complementary and help to expand its reach deeper into Eurasia.

USA - As for Russia, India is keenly aware of the Russian-Chinese Strategic Partnership and understands that Moscow is in no place to support New Delhi against any perceived Chinese aggression. Such a concern certainly doesn’t exist when it comes to the US, which incidentally surpassed Russia as the largest supplier of Indian weaponry in 2013. This trend may even accelerate, as the 70% of India’s remaining Soviet/Russian-supplied equipment will inevitably become obsolete and need to be replaced. Just as the USSR/Russia used arms shipments to India as an anchor for stronger bilateral relations, so too may the US follow this approach, seeking to ‘kill two birds with one stone’ by signing India up for the ACCC and distancing it from Russia (which, seeing the writing on the wall, has sold more arms to Pakistan).

ISRAEL - India wants to have access to Israel’s valued intelligence apparatus and high-quality weaponry in order to more adequately confront Pakistan........ If Israel throws its full weight into such an endeavor (either formally or informally), it could provide the heavy tilt needed to make India’s candidacy a serious issue among the European elite, thus creating a US-EU-Israel voting bloc in its favor. This may allow for a ‘tradeoff’ between them and a Russian-Chinese (and related-affiliate) bloc to allow India’s ascension in exchange for their candidate state’s (for example, Brazil or South Africa) at the same time.

Separating Multipolar states from Resistant&Defiant states

The crux of the matter lies in a major misperception that many people have about India’s international role, in that it is assumed that all BRICS countries are R&D states and not simply multipolar. Put another way, there is a widespread and inaccurate belief that the BRICS are united in completely opposing the unipolar world, but being a multipolar state (as India is) doesn’t necessarily demand such ideological rigidity, for better or for worse.

Let’s briefly look at a more accurate description of multipolar and R&D states in order to better understand the game Modi is playing:

MULTIPOLAR STATES They believe in a fairer distribution of global power (be it economic, military, political, cultural, etc.) away from the West and towards the Rest, and they feel that the future that the unipolar world has provided them with after the Cold War didn’t meet their expectations and was to their overall disadvantage

R&D States:
By their very description, the R&D states are dedicated to resisting and defying unipolarity in all ways, some more successful (and for the time, realistic) than others....They understand that there is undoubtedly a unipolar legacy existing within their power structures that cannot be immediately removed (e.g. Russia as a resource supplier to the EU, China as a factory for the West), but they will not allow this in being used as a lever for forcing their submission. When faced with unipolar pushback to their R&D policies (such as the Western sanctions against Russia), they hold steady and firm, intending to weather the storm and understanding that this ‘punishment’ is only an acknowledgement that they have been successful in advancing part of their R&D agenda.

All R&D states are multipolar but not all multipolar states are R&D. R&D states will never ‘sell out’ to the unipolar world, but multipolar states may do so or at least give the impression of it. Strong multipolar states run the risk of becoming Lead From Behind proxies, but no such threat exists for R&D ones. It is possible for multipolar states to become R&D, but when formerly R&D states backtrack into simple multipolarity (Libya, Cuba), it may portend a future geopolitical disaster.

Multipolar:
Vietnam/India/Turkey/Egypt

R&D:
Russia/China/Iran/Syria/Venezuela/North Korea/Zimbabwe


As is seen, the multipolar states have close and voluntary connections with unipolarity, although they also have made considerable forays into multipolarity and strengthening their relations with some R&D states. Vietnam is the multipolar kingpin in that it most elegantly balances between all sides, although that is not to say that it is completely impartial. Hanoi has been drifting towards the unipolar world lately as of its recent island disputes with Beijing, but it has also moved closer to Russia and India, R&D and multipolar states respectively. India has been the focus of this article and shouldn’t require further explanation about its policies, but Turkey and Egypt may be surprises for some. Both countries have been tied to unipolarity for decades, but only lately have they began their meanderings with multipolarity. Turkey was spurred on by the US using Kurdish nationalism as a tool for pressuring it to invade Syria, while Egypt’s al-Sisi understood very well that treachery that comes with being an American proxy state after having seen Washington promote the terroristic Muslim Brotherhood at his nation’s secular expense.
syrian-army-claims-victory

The R&D states, on the other hand, are unambiguous in their opposition to the unipolar world, and they don’t balance themselves between it and the multipolar one.

When deciding whether to designate a state as multipolar or R&D, it is thus necessary to ask oneself whether the country in question would behave like Syria if exposed to the same type of onslaught and fight to the death to defend its sovereignty and beliefs, or if it would simply capitulate and allow itself to be overrun by the terrorist hordes.

The contrast between a multipolar and a R&D state may appear slight at first glance, but in practice, the gulf is widened as each actor’s relationship with the unipolar world (the key variable) is taken into account. This is why India may appear to be a sell-out for some (the R&D supporters) but a pragmatic state for others (the multipolar supporters). Those that accept India’s moves towards the US and Israel as being in its own interests are actually advocates of multipolarity, favoring a more liberal stance vis-à-vis the unipolar world, while those that criticize such steps are on the side of the R&D states and take a more conservative approach in the fight against unipolarity.

[Philip]

India under ABV and after P-2,when we were at the receiving end of US/Western sanctions,was clearly an R&D state.
I do not think that under Mr.M there will be a deviation from this if we are again threatened with sanctions,etc.Look at Iran.It very successfully weathered 2 decades of sanctions.

[ramana]

In simple terms its fight or flight response of individuals to threats.

It depends on the threat. If it can be defeated then fight or else flight to fight another day in another form.

[JwalaMukhi]

BTW, Cuba weathered the sanctions much better than eye-ran. Over couple of generations spanning 5 or more decades easily. If Nehruvian policy of mimicking the Soviet Bloc plan were to continue, India will also weather any sanction and be as worse as any other erstwhile soviet bloc followers.