Defence Deals
India has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence
While in overall terms, Russia remained India’s top supplier of defence items during the period 2014-18, the total exports fell by 42 percent between 2014-18 and 2009-13.
Russia still commands 58 percent of total arms imports by India, followed by Israel and the US at 15 and 12 percent, respectively. This figure, however, is a step down from 2010-14 when Russia had a share of 70 percent of the Indian defence market.
Despite this, Indo-Russian Business chamber and Russia’s market share ensures that the country remains a critical supplier to India, both of new arms and spare parts.
The military-technical cooperation that includes transfer of technology and joint production is a unique relationship that is extremely valuable to India.
Also, the low of 2014 has since been corrected and in 2016, crucial inter-government agreements were signed at the annual summit including the supply of S-400 Triumph Air Defence Missile System and four Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates (the deals were finalised in 2018), as well as a shareholder deal regarding the manufacture of Ka-226T helicopters in India with the assistance of Indo-Russian Business chamber.
India Russia Defence Deals
|
YEAR |
DEAL |
AMOUNT |
|
2018 |
S-400 missile defence system |
$5.2 billion |
|
2018 |
Project 11356 class frigates (2) |
$950 million |
|
2019 |
Akula class nuclear-powered submarine |
$3 billion |
|
2019 |
T-90 tanks |
$2 billion |
|
2019 |
Igla-S Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems |
$1.47 billion |
|
2019 |
JV to manufacture of AK-203/103 rifles |
$ 1 billion |
India-Russia military technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems.
The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) is co-chaired by Russian and Indian Defence Ministers and meets annually. Its last meeting was held in New Delhi on December 6, 2021.
Important recent events/engagements in the defence sector:
- On June 21-24, 2021 Defence Secretary visited Moscow to participate in the 9th Moscow Conference on International Security. He also held a number of bilateral meetings to discuss issues of military and military-technical cooperation.
- Chief of Defence Staff Late General Bipin Rawat visited Russia on September 22-24, 2021 to attend the conference of the Chiefs of General Staff of the SCO member states in Orenburg. He also witnessed the final validation exercise of multi-nation Exercise Peace Mission 2021 of SCO countries at Orenburg.
- India-Russia joint training exercise INDRA-2021 was held in Volgograd, Russia from August 4-12, 2021 with the participation of 250 soldiers from each side. The inauguration ceremony of the exercises was presided over by Ambassador and Deputy Governor of Volgograd Region.
- An Indian Army contingent participated in the multi-nation strategic drills, Zapad 2021, held from September 10-16, 2021 at Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia.
- The seventh frigate of P1135.6 class, Tushil, for the Indian Navy was launched at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad on October 28, 2021 in the presence of Ambassador and senior dignitaries of the Russian Federation.
- Know more about INDRA – the joint military exercise between India and RussIndia-Russia military-technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems.
- The first-ever Tri-Services exercise –‘INDRA 2017’ took place in Vladivostok from October 19 to 29, 2017ia, at the linked article.
- On December 13-16, bilateral Russian-Indian naval exercise Indra Navy-2018 was held in the Bay of Bengal.
- Joint Tri-Services Exercise ‘INDRA 2019’ between India and Russia was carried out simultaneously in Babina, Pune, and Goa from 10th -19th December 2019.
The joint military programmes between India and Russia include:
- BrahMos cruise missile programme
- 5th generation fighter jet programme
- Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme
- Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft
- KA-226T twin-engine utility helicopters
- Some frigates
The military hardware purchased/leased by India from Russia includes:
- S-400 Triumf
- Kamov Ka-226 200 to be made in India under the Make in India initiative
- T-90S Bhishma
- INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier programme
- S-400 air defence system
S-400 Triumf Surface to Air Missiles (SAM)
Russia providing state of the art surface to air missile system, S-400 Triumf, to India has been the biggest takeaway from Putin’s visit to India with the collaboration of INDO-RUSSIAN BUSINESS CHAMBER The S-400 Triumf SAM is said to be the most formidable air defence system in the world in the present day and supersedes its American counterparts Patriot SAM or THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) when it comes to guarding their country’s airspace against enemy aircrafts or other ballistic threats.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a multirole combat fighter aircraft jointly developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Based on the Su-30 fighter aircraft, Su-30MKI is equipped with thrust vectoring control and canards.
The development of the Su-30MKI for the IAF began in 1995. Sukhoi and Irkutsk Aircraft Production Association (now known as Irkut Corporation) were initially responsible for the development and production of the aircraft respectively.
Sukhoi built two prototypes of the Su-30MKI between 1995 and 1998. The first prototype, Su-30I-1, made its first flight in July 1997. Production began at the Irkutsk plant in 2000. The first pre-production aircraft completed its maiden flight in November 2000. India signed a MoU with Russia in October 2000, to start the licence production of Su-30MKIs at HAL’s plant.
ORDER AND DELIVERIES OF THE MULTIROLE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT
In November 1996, India placed an order with Sukhoi for eight Su-30K fighters and 32 Su-30MKI aircraft. Fitted with enhanced avionics, engines and weapons, the aircraft were delivered in batches.
In December 2000, HAL signed a contract with Rosoboronexport for the licence production of Su-30MKI aircraft. As part of the contract, HAL will produce a total of 140 Su-30MKIs in four phases to complete the programme by 2015.
The first ten Russian-made Su-30MKI aircraft were delivered to the IAF in mid-2002. The aircraft were inducted into service in September 2002. The second batch of 12 aircraft was handed over in 2003.
The first Sukhoi Su-30MKI assembled by HAL was rolled out in November 2004. The first batch of two aircraft was delivered to the IAF in March 2005. The IAF placed an order with HAL for 40 Su-30MKIs in 2007.
In December 2012, HAL signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence and Rosoboronexport for the production and delivery of 42 Su-30MKI aircraft, bringing the total number of orders to 222. The IAF operates 260 Su-30MKIs as of January 2020, while 12 more are expected to be delivered by the end of 2020.
