M A I N   N E W S

India, Russia ink major defence deals
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

Rs 25,000 cr deals Two key defence deals worth about Rs 25,000 crores for the supply of 42 new Su-30 MKI combat aircraft and 71 Mi-17V5 helicopters signed. Negotiations for the construction of Units 3 and 4 at Kudankulam have made good progress. The two countries intend to continue implementing the roadmap for cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. Under one of the defence contracts said to be worth around Rs 16,000 crore for licence production of 42 Su-30MKIs, Russia will deliver technical kits to HAL to assemble the fighter jets here. A joint venture for setting up a modern industrial facility for manufacturing of Russian models of helicopters Agreements also signed in fields such as space, trade and investment, science and technology, education and culture. change in venue The venue of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin was shifted from the Hyderabad House to the Prime Minister’s official residence at 7, Race Course Road This was done because of the massive protests being held at India Gate, which is close to the Hyderabad House, to demand justice for the 23-year-old woman who was gang-raped in the capital recently The authorities obviously did not want any inconvenience to be caused to Putin, who was in the capital just for about 14 hours

New Delhi, December 24
Setting aside their differences over civil nuclear cooperation and Russian telecom giant Sistema’s investment, India and Russia today signed two key defence deals worth about Rs 25,000 crore for the supply of 42 new Su-30 MKI combat aircraft and 71 Mi-17V5 helicopters to this country.

The two countries also inked other agreements in fields, such as space, trade and investment, science and technology, education and culture, reinforcing the strong dynamics of their time-tested friendship.

The pacts were concluded following the 13th annual India-Russia Summit between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin during which the two leaders discussed the entire gamut of bilateral ties as well as global developments.

“Russia is a key partner in our efforts to modernise our armed forces and enhance our defence preparedness. A number of joint design, development and production projects are underway in high technology areas. We expressed satisfaction that these projects are progressing well,” Singh said in a statement after the talks with the Russian leader.

He also spoke about the bilateral civil nuclear cooperation amid differences between the two countries over India’s civil nuclear liability law.

Negotiations for the construction of Units 3 and 4 at Kudankulam have made good progress, he noted, adding that the two countries intend to continue implementing the roadmap for cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

Under one of the defence contracts said to be worth around Rs 16,000 crores for licence production of 42 Su-30 MKIs, Russia will deliver technical kits to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to assemble the fighter jets here. With this contract, the number of Su-30MKIs in the IAF would go up to 272 in next four-five years with 170 of them already at present in the force. These multi-role frontline aircraft could also be equipped with Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. Under the contract for 71 Mi-17V5 choppers, the IAF would get 59 helicopters from Russia while the remaining would be provided to paramilitary forces.

Another significant pact was for a joint venture between Elcom Systems Private Ltd. and OAO “Vertoleti Rassi” of Russia for setting up a modern industrial facility for manufacturing of Russian models of helicopters (Ka- and Mi- brands). The Joint venture will serve as an industrial base for hi-tech rotorcraft products from Russia to India and shall contribute to the development of the domestic aerospace industry.

The joint statement said the two sides also took note of the progress made in the joint development and production of high technology military equipment and projects such as the fifth-generation fighter aircraft, multi-role transport aircraft and Brahmos supersonic missile. Both sides discussed measures required to ensure expeditious delivery of the aircraft carrier ‘Vikramaditya’ to India. The Russian side assured that the requisite measures would be taken in this regard.

On the trade front, the two countries expressed satisfaction at the substantial increase during 2011 and 2012 in bilateral trade and agreed to enhance efforts to achieve the target of $ 20 billion bilateral trade by 2015.