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| T-50 PAK FA / FGFA 5th Generation Fighter (File Photo) |
The accident of INS Sindhurakshak, declining value of the Indian rupee and an overall perception of waning India Russia defence cooperation will have to be addressed during the annual meeting of the defence ministers as well as summit of leaders of the two countries at the end of the year. India continues to depend on Russia to supply defence arms and equipment worth $ 20 billion dollars which as per a Russia India Report is contributing to the defence industrial production in, “Russian factories from Nizhny Novgorod to Komsomolsk-na-Amure buzzing for years”. However India’s broad basing procurement has not gone down well with Russia as it has come a cropper in some of the most recent defence deals to include the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), the attack helicopters and heavy lift transport choppers.
Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin was petulant and made no bones about these setbacks. “We know what gimmicks are used to manipulate deals. Sometimes, terms of tenders are crafted specifically to get the required results.” He also highlighted importance of the strategic partnership. “Name a country that will lease you a nuclear submarine. Will the Americans, the British or the French lease you such a platform?” Kadakin asked, referring to the Akula-II nuclear-powered attack submarine leased to India by Russia last year. “This is the unique character of our privileged strategic partnership.”
Against this back drop, Defence Secretary Radha Krishna Mathur is set to visit Russia in September to discuss key deals including Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier and pricing of the under-development fifth generation fighter aircraft project. Gorshkov is likely to be delivered to the Indian Navy by end of 2013. Upgrade of submarines is likely to be on the agenda after the accident of INS Sindhurakshak, but will be fruitful only if there is progress on the enquiry to reveal the cause of the mishap. The issue of replacing bursting barrels of Army tanks due to ammunition on T-72 tanks, the mainstay of the Indian armoured fleet with the ones fitted on the T-90 tanks is also likely to be discussed during the visit.
Commenting on the accident of INS Sindhurakshak, Russian Zvyozdochka ship Repair Company which had carried out the upgrade has told RIA Novosti that the submarine was fully fit when handed over to India in January this year. "We signed a contract for a light overhaul and modernisation in June 2010, and completed (the refit) in January 2013," the unidentified Zvyozdochka spokesman told RIA Novosti. "During the repairs, we fitted a new Club rocket complex and a number of foreign systems on the ship, including Indian ones." INS Sindhurakshak is covered by a Russian warranty and eight Zvyozdochka employees are currently in the Mumbai port where the vessel sank. Talks have already begun with the Russians for a second upgrade of the Kilos. An Indian team has visited Russia to explore the idea of an upgrade
Commenting on the loss of submarine INS Sindhurakshak, Dmitry Rogozin, deputy prime minister in charge of the defence industry, assured Russia’s continued support. ''Whatever the outcome [of the Sindhurakshak probe], India remains our leading partner, not just only in the off-the-shelf purchases of weapon platforms,'' he said. ''India is our premier partner for the long haul in co-development of military hardware. We will help India build up its capabilities in this sphere,'' Rogozin told reporters on a visit to Russia's major nuclear submarine base in Vilyuchinsk, Kamchatka Peninsula, in far eastern Russia.
From an exclusive dependence on the Soviet Union in the 1980’s India has shifted the defence procurement to make it more broad based. The country being the largest importer of defence equipment across the World has been dependent on foreign suppliers and Russia after breakup of the Soviet Union has continued to be the top source given the long standing relations between Moscow and Delhi. Of late however three factors seem to be reducing India’s dependence on Russia. Firstly is increased interest shown by competitors as the US in exporting arms to India after there was a taboo for a long time, secondly is India’s urge to diversity sources and not depend exclusively on Russia and finally the low technology of Russian equipment in some areas. More over accidents as that of Sindhurakshak which was only recently refurbished in Russia may dampen prospects of Indian Navy in particular going in for more Russian equipment.
This Article first appeared on Security Risks and is reposted here under a Creative Commons license.