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| AN32 (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons) |
India Ukraine defence relations are in focus with the visit of President of Ukraine Mr. Viktor Yanukovych to India from 9th to 12th December. The visit is significant as this year is the 20th anniversary of relations with Ukraine.
India Ukraine defence cooperation has been quite healthy. Ukraine is overhauling and modernizing the Indian Air Force’s AN32 fleet. This is based on contracts signed in 2009 worth about $ 520 million. There was a $ 400 million contract for life extension of the aircraft, and about $ 120 million was for engines. The contract was signed for 100 aircraft. A number of aircraft are to be upgraded in Ukraine and the majority are to be done in India. 25 aircraft have been already upgraded in Ukraine of the 40 while remainder 60 will be upgraded in India.
As nearly 30 per cent of the Soviet defence industry was located in Ukraine the AN32 modernisation is being carried out there. More over ship engines such as the Zorya gas turbines powering Delhi class warships of the Indian Navy are also being regularly sourced from Ukraine for the past 30, 40 years. MiG-23 engines were also being overhauled there. Motor Sich of Ukraine supplies helicopter engines. Some of the agreements in the pipeline as per media sources are 'Kolchuga' electronic support measure system for tracking stealth warplanes and the R-77 missile. Greater collaboration in aerospace projects is also likely to be on the cards.
Nuclear technology could also be one of the areas of cooperation. Ukraine as a part of the former Soviet Union is home to niche technologies and having been subjected to a nuclear accident in 1986, Ukraine has lessons in nuclear safety for India because this sector still caters to 45-50 per cent of the country's energy needs. Most reactors are based on the same technology offered by the Russians for the Kudankulam plant and a large number of Ukrainian engineers were working. However Ukraine’s defence deals with Pakistan and China are likely to act as hurdles for further enhancement of cooperation and Kiev will have to make a commitment either way.
This Article first appeared on Security Risks and is reposted here under a Creative Commons license.