Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia in December, India has signed a military technical cooperation agreement with Russia, which provides a blueprint for stepping up joint production of advanced weapon systems.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is in Moscow for the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), signed a military- technical cooperation agreement with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. He pitched for a greater role for Russian defence companies in the Make in India programme, which seeks to modernize India’s military-industrial complex.
The two sides are understood to have discussed ways to fast-track the showpiece projects of joint collaboration, including Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft and Multi-role Transport Aircraft.
Parrikar’s visit was aimed at firming up major contracts that could be signed during Mr Modi’s visit to Moscow in December.
Regarding the Triumf missile systems, a government to government deal could be signed during Mr Modi’s visit. However, there was no official announcement on it. If India signs the deal, it would be the second customer of the prized missile system after China which had sealed a USD 3 billion contract with Russia earlier this year. The S-400, an upgraded version of the S-300, had previously only been available to the Russian defence forces.
The leasing of a second nuclear submarine was also taken up. In 2012, India had leased a 12,000-tonne Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, the INS Chakra, for a ten-year period.
Parrikar’s visit has also set the stage for the inking of an agreement with Russia for the manufacture of 200 Kamov 226T helicopters in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The issue of serviceability of Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets was discussed and India sought for a smooth and reliable supply of spare parts and systems.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the Office of the Russian Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade as well as federal service on military and technical cooperation of Russia.
“Consolidated position of our states has a stabilising influence on the international situation,” Mr Shoigu was quoted as saying in a statement by the Russian Defence Ministry. The important constituent part of the Russian-Indian strategic interaction was the military cooperation, he added.
The intergovernmental commission is the main mechanism of facilitation of cooperation between both countries. Mr Parrikar stressed that cooperation in the defence field has played a very important role in such a strategic partnership and it was necessary to do everything in accordance to mutual profit and respect in order to develop this vital partnership.
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