India-Russia: News & Analysis

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Apr 2019 20:19

EP.734: Alexey Pushkov- Though not India Specific but good insight into Russian Foreign Policy from one of Foreign Policy makers in Russian Parilament

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 15 Apr 2019 11:31

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/r ... 2019-04-12

Russia awards Narendra Modi its highest order, PM thanks Putin

HIGHLIGHTS
PM Modi awarded for helping boost India-Russia ties
Order of St Andrew the Apostle was established in 17th century
The award is Russia's highest state decoration

Russia has awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi Order of St Andrew the Apostle, the highest order of the Russian Federation. PM Modi was awarded the order for "exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between" Russia and India, the Russian embassy in India said in a tweet.

PM Modi thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was "honoured to receive this prestigious award". "Foundations of India-Russia friendship are deep & the future of our partnership is bright," PM Modi said, adding, "President Putin remains a source of great strength for the India-Russia friendship. Under his visionary leadership, bilateral and multilateral cooperation between our nations has scaled new heights."

Honoured to receive this prestigious award. I thank President Putin and the people of Russia.

Foundations of India-Russia friendship are deep & the future of our partnership is bright.

Extensive cooperation between our nations has led to extraordinary outcomes for our citizens. https://t.co/4ppEC7ZAWe

Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 12, 2019
According to the Russian government, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle was established in the 17th century by Peter the Great around 1699 and is the oldest of Russia's state decorations.

The Order of St Andrew the Apostle is both the highest and the oldest state decoration of Russia. The order was abolished in the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1918 and was re-established in 1998.

On April 12, @narendramodi was decorated with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle for exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between and and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples.@mfa_russia @MEAIndia @IndEmbMoscow pic.twitter.com/jUFt5aawxw

Russia in India (@RusEmbIndia) April 12, 2019
According to the Russian government, "The Order of St Andrew the Apostle is awarded to outstanding politicians and public figures, as well as other citizens of Russia, for exceptional services..."

In 2017, Chinese president Xi Jinping was awarded the Order of St Andrew the Apostle.

With the Russian award, PM Narendra Modi has now been honoured with around seven top global awards. PM Modi has previously been awarded the United Arab Emirates's top honour as well as of countries including South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Afghanistan.

vimal · Post by **vimal** » 15 Apr 2019 11:42

Austin wrote:https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/r ... 2019-04-12

Russia awards Narendra Modi its highest order, PM thanks Putin

With the Russian award, PM Narendra Modi has now been honoured with around seven top global awards. PM Modi has previously been awarded the United Arab Emirates's top honour as well as of countries including South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Afghanistan.

When did Modi get so many awards? I don't remember reading about any??
Is this a case if strength respects strength.

rajsunder · Post by **rajsunder** » 08 May 2019 06:27

what do our learned maulanas think about this

In this video Abhijit Iyer says that it is just a matter of time before russia would be in the lap of China and by proxy in the lap of bakistan.

kit · Post by **kit** » 08 May 2019 07:44

rajsunder wrote:what do our learned maulanas think about this

In this video Abhijit Iyer says that it is just a matter of time before russia would be in the lap of China and by proxy in the lap of bakistan.

i don't think Russia will be in the lap of China or anyone else for that matter, they value their autonomy more than most people think., this is a country that lost millions of their youth in the world wars. Their relation with China is more of a marriage of convenience., they will get out of it the moment the west does away their embargo and related restrictions. China is actually a strategic threat to them despite their professed bonhomie. The relation with Pakistan should not be seen through the china lens but it is more of a necessity in view of the Islamist threat via Afghanistan.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 08 May 2019 11:49

Part of this propaganda by some Arms dealers selling western equipment, India has made too many Russians deals, the Russians will continue to sell to their biggest customer PRC( off course everything will always be perfectly reverse engineered by the Chinese) and some equipment to Pakis like RD 33, Mi 35 and Mi 17 which will harm us. But they are hardly going to be a poodle to China that too for the Pakis sake and pull the plug on

ARMy
1. 464 T-90, parts for 1000 T-90 1700 T72, M-46, BMP, bridging equipment, Smerch, Brahmos etc

Airforce

1. Supply of various ordinance sparts for Mig 29, SU 30 fleet along with spare parts
2. S-400
3. 18 new Build SU 30 and 21 Mig 29
4. Significant fleet of Mi 17's
5.Brahmos and other CM
Navy
1. Ka 31's, Ka28
2. Krivak class Ships
3. Akula subs
4. Brahmos and various CM from styx, Kashin AK 630.

The point is over 50 years both Russia and India have a lot of interdependence even in Oil and Gas etc. The Russians are not so helpless to throw all this out for China. We should stop taking snake oil salesmen soo seriously.

The India- Russia alliance does cause a lot of takleef to China and the West, it was why Nixon and Mao collaborated, so they will use snake oil salesmen to divide and drive a wedge.

rajsunder · Post by **rajsunder** » 09 May 2019 04:50

kit wrote:
i don't think Russia will be in the lap of China or anyone else for that matter, they value their autonomy more than most people think., this is a country that lost millions of their youth in the world wars. Their relation with China is more of a marriage of convenience., they will get out of it the moment the west does away their embargo and related restrictions. China is actually a strategic threat to them despite their professed bonhomie. The relation with Pakistan should not be seen through the china lens but it is more of a necessity in view of the Islamist threat via Afghanistan.

As per the video China buys close to $50 billion dollars worth of crude from Russia. As the time passes by and oil depending countries will have to face the consequences of increased electric cars usage and decrease of crude usage, countries like Russia will become desperate to hang on to their customers.
In 5 to 10 years majority of the weaponry sold by Russia would become obsolete. Except few technologies, Russia is not investing in R & D in other domains. Case and point would be the PAKFA. Russians lack resources to build world class weapons.

Cain Marko · Post by **Cain Marko** » 09 May 2019 10:15

^yeah we heard this stuff before after the fall of the FSU, it's almost 30 years since and the world including India continues to buy rusdki weapons. Of course I'm sure it will be all obsolete in the next 10 years

kit · Post by **kit** » 09 May 2019 10:21

rajsunder wrote:
kit wrote:
i don't think Russia will be in the lap of China or anyone else for that matter, they value their autonomy more than most people think., this is a country that lost millions of their youth in the world wars. Their relation with China is more of a marriage of convenience., they will get out of it the moment the west does away their embargo and related restrictions. China is actually a strategic threat to them despite their professed bonhomie. The relation with Pakistan should not be seen through the china lens but it is more of a necessity in view of the Islamist threat via Afghanistan.
As per the video China buys close to $50 billion dollars worth of crude from Russia. As time passes by and oil depending countries will have to face the consequences of increased electric cars usage and decrease of crude usage, countries like Russia will become desperate to hang on to their customers.
In 5 to 10 years the majority of the weaponry sold by Russia would become obsolete. Except few technologies, Russia is not investing in R & D in other domains. Case and point would be the PAKFA. Russians lack resources to build world class weapons.

they would be down but not out. A country's greatest strength is the will of the people and that is the indicator they have gone by and do so in the future, no Russian I have met be it a millionaire or otherwise have forgotten how the west has treated them and how they view China ( which is not so much )., just a matter of time. Russians are strong in the basic sciences and so they will be ready when they invest more in research., and they are right now focussing on strategic and asymmetric weapon tech, like hypersonic weapons

As regards crude futures that is a different ball game, will be played out and through with it in the next decade. the future is indeed electric!

Mukesh.Kumar · Post by **Mukesh.Kumar** » 09 May 2019 11:31

kit wrote:
rajsunder wrote: As per the video China buys close to $50 billion dollars worth of crude from Russia. As time passes by and oil depending countries will have to face the consequences of increased electric cars usage and decrease of crude usage, countries like Russia will become desperate to hang on to their customers.
In 5 to 10 years the majority of the weaponry sold by Russia would become obsolete. Except few technologies, Russia is not investing in R & D in other domains. Case and point would be the PAKFA. Russians lack resources to build world class weapons.
they would be down but not out. A country's greatest strength is the will of the people and that is the indicator they have gone by and do so in the future, no Russian I have met be it a millionaire or otherwise have forgotten how the west has treated them and how they view China ( which is not so much )., just a matter of time. Russians are strong in the basic sciences and so they will be ready when they invest more in research., and they are right now focussing on strategic and asymmetric weapon tech, like hypersonic weapons

As regards crude futures that is a different ball game, will be played out and through with it in the next decade. the future is indeed electric!

++1 KIt.

All Russians, I have met know this point, and feel it. At least one thing that the Soviet Union, gave them was good basic education system, though it's slowly fraying.

I find Russians similar to India on many factors:

Family is still important, with mothers playing a larger role.
Long history and longer memory.
Like India, they have had cyclic stages of deracination- fascination with West and a return to the soil. Tsarist Russia had French as court language with the bourgeois sending children to Paris for education, and the pull back of the intellectuals who led the revolution in search for roots. Similar played out with fascination of trying to be European in the mid nineties, and then the realization that they will never be accepted as Europeans

siqir · Post by **siqir** » 27 May 2019 20:20

russia launches new nuclear powered icebreaker named ural

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... -up-arctic

video of launch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ryDMp6mA48

older one in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G9B1fyqV4g

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Jun 2019 10:31

Russia, India should support their own currencies instead of using US dollar — official

https://tass.com/economy/1064439

MUMBAI, June 18. /TASS/. Russia and India should jointly use the dollar less and develop national currencies instead, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev said on Tuesday at the session of the Eastern Economic Forum in India.

"This is an advantage that the US enjoys. With the help of the dollar, they significantly influence world economy," Trutnev said.

"The world should be multipolar both politically and economically. We should work on this together. I am confident that there should not be only one dominant currency in the world, this is just wrong," he added.

In particular, Russia and India should support their own national currencies, he concluded.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Jun 2019 10:35

Mukesh.Kumar wrote: I find Russians similar to India on many factors:

Family is still important, with mothers playing a larger role.

mostly due to revival of Eastern Orthodox church after fall of SU ......While church is not the state it has increasing infulence when it comes to social policy matters.

West know this and try to slide in LGBT Rights , Jehova Witness etc to break the social fabric and when the back of both got broken they west cried foul.

I have not see any Western leaders crying about LGBT right for any Islamic countries.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 25 Jun 2019 18:39

Austin wrote:Russia, India should support their own currencies instead of using US dollar — official

https://tass.com/economy/1064439

MUMBAI, June 18. /TASS/. Russia and India should jointly use the dollar less and develop national currencies instead, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev said on Tuesday at the session of the Eastern Economic Forum in India.

"This is an advantage that the US enjoys. With the help of the dollar, they significantly influence world economy," Trutnev said.

"The world should be multipolar both politically and economically. We should work on this together. I am confident that there should not be only one dominant currency in the world, this is just wrong," he added.

In particular, Russia and India should support their own national currencies, he concluded.

A nonsense report to make Indians feel good. The Russians want USD plain and simple. They get that with India’s arms purchases. Commercial trade relations are abysmal. If they can supply gas for cheap, then the story changes, until then it’s all pissing in the wind.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 25 Jun 2019 19:25

Barter trade works well too.It avoids trading in the almighty greenback and avoids sanctions.India can easily buy Iranian oil in a tri- partite exchange, where Russia sells us Iranian oil its bought and we pay for it in whatever currency/ basket of commodities that the Iranians desire via Russia.

dinesh_kimar · Post by **dinesh_kimar** » 26 Jun 2019 17:42

We need to escape the bear hug, which wants to stifle and ensnare us. It is no longer the bear of old, but a rabid offshoot.

They played dirty with weapon and part deliveries, didn't adhere to cost , quality and delivery for last 25 years now. We are their only market in many cases.

Our critical requirement may be nuclear equipment and supplies like the Akula and it's fuel, S400 strategic air defence systems and radars, and Su-30 engines and radar (raw materials!). Maybe a ear at the security council is useful. Maybe space cooperation is required.

But cap it at these items only. Pay for their use, till we have a better alternative. If they refuse, do local development like the cryogenic engine.

We should not encourage them much for bread and butter tactical gear like rifles, ammo , ships and light helicopter, when we either have a domestic program or better source.

Recent discussions of choosing LCA over old Mig 29 has got me thinking along these lines.

When numbers are critical, and domestic production is low / needs time to pick up, a good strategy may be to deploy nuclear weapons in the services.

For Eg. No one will pick up fight with even a 25 squadron IAF, if they have nuclear weapons deployed under local commanders, the similar doctrine followed by NATO against overwhelming massed Soviet union forces.

The Pakis have successfully used their low cost tactical nuke scare on us, and we almost broke the bank buying 124 + 72 Rafales.

We need time and space for our MIC to grow.

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 26 Jun 2019 23:17

IMO the establishment have been metaphorically honey trapped (Natasha'd) but are in denial - we still think this is true love. She is squeezing us for all we have got, in exchange all we get is some choli-ke-peche nebulous benefits.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 27 Jun 2019 09:01

Let's get real about our capabilities.We are about 30 to 40 years behind the major players in tech. We've yet to make a fighter engine despite decades of spoonfeeding Kaveri. We have yet to perfect an AESA radar too.We take great pride in BMos, but in truth the engine, the core element is Ru.Our relationship with Ru allows us to leapfrog tech. which the west is discarding and wants us to buy like F-16/18s.We do not have the money .Our entire N-sub programme would be in its infancy without Ru help.The lease of Chakra 1 and 2 with C-3 due in a few years time is invaluable for training our submariners. We now have SSBNs coming out in series at last and will in time to come roll our our SSNs too.

It is only in strategic rocketry that we are truly indigenous with the Agni series of BMs , Prithvi, Shaurya, etc.Even Astra originally flew with an Ru seeker.
So let's take a positive view of the relationship.Ru has offered almost everything that we've required which we are unable to obtain from the West or develop ourselves within the required timeframe.These have also come at much lower cost than western equivalents. It has served us well in our past wars and current situ. We have also diversified our def suppliers including the US and Israel.

Our goal of greater indigenous systems is a tough goal to achieve.It can't be done overnight but has to be done incrementally in stages for which clear priorities need to be listed and a roadmap made to achieve the same, fully supported by the required finance and accountability by those in charge of critical programmes.The old DRDO culture will not do.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 27 Jun 2019 09:32

Neither the LCA nor the Arjun nor the P17s nor the Arty guns under trials are 30-40 years behind the best. And a lot of stuff bought “fakes” being more advanced and then remains in their hangars/depots for want of spares or other items.

Every time we make a phoren purchase, indegenization is pushed back further. Today India has the capability to make every weapon - look at the short lead time in making the Arty guns. The Vikrant will be better than the Vikramaditya and the Shivaliks are acknowledged to be superior to the Talwars.

So this bogey of - we are poor and low tech so must buy imported does not cut any ice. Russia produces everything for Russian conditions- not to fight in Thar.

Bite the bullet - take the harder road of indigenous production that will uplift the country’s poor and herald true industrialization. Reject this false notion trying to mislead and push the country back to its knees. Economic well being lays the foundation for national security.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 27 Jun 2019 09:48

Vivek K wrote:Neither the LCA nor the Arjun nor the P17s nor the Arty guns under trials are 30-40 years behind the best. And a lot of stuff bought “fakes” being more advanced and then remains in their hangars/depots for want of spares or other items.

Every time we make a phoren purchase, indegenization is pushed back further. Today India has the capability to make every weapon - look at the short lead time in making the Arty guns. The Vikrant will be better than the Vikramaditya and the Shivaliks are acknowledged to be superior to the Talwars.

So this bogey of - we are poor and low tech so must buy imported does not cut any ice. Russia produces everything for Russian conditions- not to fight in Thar.

Bite the bullet - take the harder road of indigenous production that will uplift the country’s poor and herald true industrialization. Reject this false notion trying to mislead and push the country back to its knees. Economic well being lays the foundation for national security.

I agree. Purchase of foreign weapon systems is a waste of the Indian taxpayer's money. Make in India no matter what. The idea that N-sub program would be in infancy is bunk. The Russians are prohibited by treaty to help India on reactor design. Russian subs are dangerous rusty underwater garbage scows that radiate like crazy and give away their position. India does not need them. The S-400 is a pipe dream which shall never work and have availability less than 25% of the time. Better to spend that money on indigenous air defense programs.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 27 Jun 2019 15:40

True that our naval corp of designers can design most types of warships.but pray what desi weapons are on our P-15 s? Nothing is desi barring the hull the sonars and some EW and miscellaneous items. Even the GTs are US.We heard a decade ago big talk about a naval variant of Kaveri.It has remained just that DRDO big talk..SAMs are Israeli JV and BMos an Ru JV.The gun is Italian, the ASW helos will be US, main radar Israeli and Dutch.It is only now that we've introduced desi heavweight torpedoes.A few electronic EW systems and chaff decoys desi.So let's not fool ourselves that we can simply do it all alone.Even BMos NG and BMos- H is being deveopled with Russia. The French over Rafal that we were unable to absorb all advanced tech. even if full TOT for the Rafale was given and refused to sign on and guarantee the quality of HAL built Rafales.

As I said before, the list of critical technology and weaponry reqd. must be listed in order of priority and realistically assessed, what we can accomplish ourselves , where we need help as in a JV and what needs to be at first an outright purchase.Secondly, desi programmes must have a deadline for development, trials and induction. Programmes cannot go on indefinitely for decades like Kaveri.Perhaps we need the old Sov. and US tactic of getting two desi entities to develop prototypes in parallel.Is is good to see that with the arty, it is happening.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 27 Jun 2019 18:35

There we go again - completely missing the point of having the ability to design and buying off the shelf components.

One must be realistic and not pooh pooh domestic accomplishments - Shivaliks, LCA, Arjun, Vikrant, INSAS, Dhanush artillery guns, ATAGS. And look up the history of the Marut in 71. It was exactly this phoren loving attitude that killed local industry and had IAF buy the Jaguar instead of developing the Marut Mk1R.

dinesh_kimar · Post by **dinesh_kimar** » 27 Jun 2019 20:08

Singha wrote: cross post from UK thread

When the japanese realized their leg, they proactively went out and learned as much as they could to haul themselves up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Restoration

The Japanese have long studied the matter of Technology indigenisation, and have made practical steps to tackling it.

(Singha sahib has once again come close to the crux of the matter).

It is from them we learn that there are a no. of stages in it.

1. Acquisition of operations techniques

2. Maintenance of equipment

3. Repairs and minor modifications of equipment

4. Designing of equipment

5. Domestic manufacturing of equipment(self-reliance in technology)

In the 80s, there was a great thrust given to Maintenance in India, but sadly did not take off. ( Some colleges were offering M.tech in this field.)

The F-35 screwdriver giri with full depot level maintenance is to be seen in this context.

Ashokk · Post by **Ashokk** » 20 Aug 2019 17:56

130K Troops to Hold Mass Military Drills at War Games, Russia Announces

The Russian Armed Forces will be joined by troops from China, India, Pakistan and four Central Asian republics for the anti-terror drills, the ministry said.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 25 Aug 2019 11:37

We need a complete overhaul of national grand strategy , placing the security of thd nation as the foundation with economic development on top of it.A weak nation, as in the past saw us repeatedly invaded raped and looted.
The unculcation of national pride and duty begins with education from the school level, in university and minimum national service after univ. Univs. should reorient their syllabi to courses teaching sunrise tech. like aerospace, other defence- related subjects, ,etc. Univs. must have direct links with the DRDO and other scientific orgs. in both public and pvt. sectors. Without skilled himan resources, we will fall behind the leading nations.

Russia despite the collapse of the SU has remarkably retained its scientific knowledge base and under Putin has modernised its armed forces very substantially.
Next year it will receive 6 subs, 4 nuclear boats, the most since SU days. Indo- Russian collaboration across thd boarc in science and tech. could rapidly shorten hhe catching up period for us.A good move was to acquire proven Ru space tech. for our planned first manned space mission.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 25 Aug 2019 11:54

Philip wrote:Let's get real about our capabilities.i. We have yet to perfect an AESA radar too.

I really wish you read more. Even the forum would do. India has 6-7 AESA radars which are in production/production ready: LRTR/LRTR+, MFCR, Aslesha, Arudhra, Ashwini, AEW&CS. Another bunch in trials: Bharani Mk2, ADTCR, both very likely to be cleared for production if they haven't been already. Another bunch in development: Uttam, ABISS, QRSAM, Atulya, Mountain radar, HPR, AWACS India, and several advanced designs.

In fact, India is one of the few countries undertaking AESA development on this scale. The next phase will include moving to GaN, and non traditional (read long wave) AESAs.

Ashokk · Post by **Ashokk** » 26 Aug 2019 13:45

India proposes to replace russian turbines for future units in Kudankulam with japanese turbines

The Atomic Energy Corporation of India (NPCIL), a customer for the construction of a nuclear power plant being built by the Russian side, is discussing the possible replacement of turbine equipment from Power Machines by Alexei Mordashov. New Delhi offers Rosatom to replace it with products from Japanese manufacturers. This was reported to RBC by two sources close to the participants in the negotiations between the countries.

The Indian side expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the turbines and generators supplied by Power Machines for the turbine section of the already constructed units of the Kudankulam NPP, one of the interlocutors said. But we are not talking about replacing the supplier of turbines for the Kudankulam blocks under construction (six blocks should be built in total, two are now ready), since all the equipment for them has already been contracted. The requirement concerns a new nuclear power plant with six units, the construction of which is also provided for by an intergovernmental agreement and should be completed by 2034.

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 26 Aug 2019 18:48

Did Russia do a China and push its outdated/reject/suspect quality stuff to India? Why would an important part like Turbine otherwise fail? i remember the turbine had to be shut down within a couple of months of the first unit commissioning and was out for nearly 3-4 months.
If the turbine is not of substandard quality then there is no way Russia would allow its stuff to be substituted by the Japanese one. Allowing it would be an admission of the failed quality and would not send a good message regarding reliability of Russian nuclear plants especially for the ones under construction in other countries. For example Bangladesh is getting a Russian Nuclear plant with some equipment being supplied by India.

MeshaVishwas · Post by **MeshaVishwas** » 29 Aug 2019 00:38

Starts at 15 Minute mark.
A proud son of a great mother, Shri.Jaishankar delivers his speech and articulates the nation's views so well.
Jai Hind.

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 29 Aug 2019 07:52

Russia to push for final orders in $1-billion Kamov light copters at Modi-Putin talks next month.

Russia will press India for early placement of final orders for 200 Kamov KA-226 light utility helicopters under a $1 billion joint manufacturing deal, delayed by almost a year, when President Vladimir Putin meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok next week.

Modi is the chief guest at Putin’s annual gig of world leaders and captains of industry to promote investments in the natural resource-rich far eastern
region of Russia. “We are hopeful that this meeting between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi will bring a new development in our KA-226 project. A major push will be made definitely. All technical and commercial talks are already finished. All RFPs (request for proposals) done; twice already. But then until now the contract is not signed. Quite obviously this question will be discussed in Vladivostok,” Victor N Cladov, director for international cooperation and regional policy at Rostec told TOI at the MAKS 2019 air show here.

Rostec is the state-owned holding conglomerate which mentors Russian defence and hi-tech companies, including Russian Helicopters, the manufacturers of KA-226 choppers, which US-led Western military alliance calls ‘Hoodlum’. The Ka-226 helicopters are to replace the four-decades-old and accident-prone Cheetah and Chetak helicopters in service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

The two countries signed the deal in 2015 On the sidelines of BRICS summit in Goa. Under the agreement, Russian Helicopters is to supply 60 choppers in a fly-away condition and assemble the rest in India jointly with state-run aeronautical firm HAL under Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme to promote domestic manufacturing.

Cladov said Russian Helicopters has not been “sitting idle or sleeping” because final orders have been delayed by “almost a year”. “In February Russian Helicopter signed five separate contracts with vendors which are private Indian companies who will be supplying units and parts for the KA-226. We are moving towards Make in India programme. Many components and parts will be produced domestically in India. HAL will be the main partner. Down the line, we will invite more and more Indian partners.” The Indian vendors will supply assemblies such as fuselage, blades, and landing gear.

Cladov did not see problems in the payment mechanism due to US sanctions as the reason for the delay in placement of final orders and said they were awaiting Indian defence ministry clearance. “It is a non-issue (for all Russian defence deals). There were initial difficulties due to banking restrictions (because of sanctions). But then we talked on a government-to-government level on using different currency. In India’s case we use the rupee.”

On whether the entire deal will be paid in rupee, Cladov said “This is very technical and I am not a banker… The system is adapted to new reality.”
Sources said Promsvyazbank PJSC, a central bank-controlled Russian lender tasked with financing the defence industry to shield the two biggest state-owned banks Sberbank and VTB from the threat of US sanctions, is likely to handle the payments for Indian defence deals, including for S-400 missile defence system.

On the threat of US sanctions affecting defence deals, Cladov said India is an “important and powerful” country which “stands up and talks to the US on equal terms”. “I believe India has clearly conveyed to Washington that it needs the S-400 system for its national defence.”

India’s junior minister for external affairs V Muraleedharan had on July 15 told Parliament that the country’s need for the S-400 had been clearly conveyed to the US during secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s visit to Delhi in June.

On Rostec offering to directly sell the fifth generation fighter SU-57, which was to be jointly developed with India till New Delhi walked out, Cladov said: “We have never ever cancelled any agreement with the Indian government. The fifth generation fighter jet project has been delayed by the Indian side, not the Russian side.(Sure you natasha pimping ass, pointing out valid issues is India's right after paying you $300 Million and you did not deliver on what was promised) The Indian Air Force has their own views and strategy on the development. If there is renewed interest, then why not.”

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 30 Aug 2019 00:12

Waste of money - unless we're buying some tech we need for our MIC.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 30 Aug 2019 02:04

Vivek K wrote:Waste of money - unless we're buying some tech we need for our MIC.

Absolutely right. The Dhruv is much better than the KA-226. For $1 billion, so many could be built gaining experience, manufacturing capacity, and generating tremendous employment.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 30 Aug 2019 09:55

Dhruv isn't an LUH but a med. sized bird. Larger, heavier and more expensive.This bird, Kamov, is meant to replace the All-3 avatars, Chetak, etc. Dhruv's are being bought in sufficient number where required. At least in this deal we get TOT for local manufacture to component level.Not with v.expensive Apaches! But with the large amount of MI-17s, plus repeat orders, it puzzles me why we did not ask for TOT of this worldbeater helo used even in Afg. by western forces. It would've helped us develop our desi helo capability faster.

The Hindu reports that a G-2-G offer of conv. subs is to be made to the PM at the summit, to save time, etc. in augmenting our elderly conv. sub fleet. Let's see what happens.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 30 Aug 2019 18:47

Well here is our own LUH - crossposting from the helo thread

ashthor wrote:Harsh Vardhan Thakur

LUH scales DBO and beyond, landing at J Top at >18000feet at ISA+25°C

https://twitter.com/hvtiaf/status/1167399983663857664

Don't need the Kamov for that. If there is some tech that will come or some other assistance in real geopolitics we need then perhaps the Kamov is ok.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 31 Aug 2019 22:38

The Q as always with desi wares is the time taken from unveiling, trials to series production.Take Tejas for dxample.6/yr. initially now being diubled to 12.When the requirement as of a few years ago was 200+! The light helos are still flying thanks to string and tape and on a prayer. The need for light helos is several hundred which cannot be fixed by our nascent LUH. The IA, IAF and IN have been waiting impatiently for sev. years now for a new LUH. The KA-226 won a long drawn-out competition too. When it has been perfected and in series production there will be enough orders plus exports too if it makes the grade and can be built cheaply too.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 31 Aug 2019 23:01

If you dont order enough, you cant set up lines! Then you end up cribbing about rate of delivery because the line is anemic. Brilliant chicken and egg problem!

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 02 Sep 2019 19:17

Modi, Putin likely to sign 25 trade, defence, energy pacts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a one-on-one dinner on Wednesday in Vladivostok in the backdrop of the 20th edition of an annual bilateral summit where both sides are expected to ink 25 pacts across sectors including defence, trade, investments, industrial cooperation, energy and connectivity corridors.

At the dinner, the two leaders will look to further deepen their strong personal chemistry and explore steps to effectively coordinate on key global issues including the Af-Pak hotspot, ET has learnt.

“During such conversations, the main international and regional problems, coordination in the international arena are discussed very frankly, confidentially,” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian media at the Kremlin on Saturday.

It may be recalled that in October, when Putin visited New Delhi for the annual summit, Modi had hosted him for a one-on-one dinner at his residence. In April 2018, when Modi visited Sochi for the informal summit, both spent time one-on-one and Putin, in a rare gesture, accompanied the PM to the airport before his departure.

The two share a strong personal chemistry, which has contributed to qualitative improvement in the bilateral partnership over the last few years, according to informed sources. Russia was the first P-5 nation to support India’s recent moves on Kashmir.

At the September 4 summit, the two leaders will also adopt a joint statement titled “Through trust and partnership to new heights of cooperation”, which will set the mood for deepening bilateral ties, including closer foreign policy coordination, according to Ushakov.

On the same occasion, the Russian President, in a unique gesture, will hand over to Modi a stamp dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.

The proposed agreements will also cover education and culture which would increase the intake of Indian students in top Russian educational institutes. Delhi and Moscow could also conclude a pact that will employ Indians at projects in the resource-rich Far East.

“The very fact that the annual summit is being organised in Vladivostok (hub of Far East Russia) coinciding with the Eastern Economic Forum where the Indian PM is the Chief Guest showcases the importance given by both Delhi and Moscow to the region as part of their respective Indo-Pacific and Asia-Pacific strategies. The partnership in resourcerich Far East Asia is also critical to push bilateral trade volumes,” a source said.

The two sides plan to conclude a roadmap for increasing investments and trade volume during the PM’s visit. The economic partnership so far lacks depth of strong strategic partnership.

Before the summit, the two leaders will also jointly visit Zvezda shipbuilding complex — the ships built there in future can be used to deliver Russian oil and LNG to India, ET has learnt.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 02 Sep 2019 21:48

There will be at least 200 LUHs required in the future as the helo comes on stream if costs are competetivd with the KA. We will need around 400 for all services not to mention civilian requirements too. The IN alone need over 100 LUHs.If HAL is confident about their bird, they should pitch it for this contest as the KA-226 for the IA is a done deal.

Def news says that first payments for the S- 400s have been made and thr first deliveries will be in 2020 itself, all deliveted by 2025.

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 03 Sep 2019 06:06

They were all earlier supposed to be delivered by 2022-23. Why the 2 year creep now?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Sep 2019 09:27

Indian Ambassador to Russia D. B. Venkatesh Varma on Prime Minister’s Visit to Russia