News Report: India Gearing Up for Two Major Joint Military Exercises With US, Russia

India’s joint military exercises with the world’s superpowers are not reminiscent of muscle-flexing in the region but preparedness for unforeseen contingency globally, says expert.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – India and the United States are currently preparing for a joint military training named Yudh Abhyas — 2017 to be held at the Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington from 14 to 27 September. This will be the 13th edition of the joint exercise hosted alternately between the two countries since 2004. Indian Army has termed the exercise a part of a joint preparation to meet any unforeseen contingency across the globe. 

“Exercise Yudh Abhyas is one of the largest joint running military training and defense corporation endeavors between India and USA. Multiple scenarios will be rehearsed during the joint exercise with a view to understand each other's organizational structure and battle procedures which would result in a higher degree of joint manship that would further facilitate interoperability between the armed forces of both countries to meet any unforeseen contingency across the globe,” Indian Army said in a statement.

News Report: Sukhoi PAK-FA Could Power India’s Fifth Gen Fighter

As a high-level committee clears the deck for signing the second stage of the Indo-Russia fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project, it is expected the Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive the fifth generation fighter just when 11 squadrons of obsolete MiG-21s and MiG-27s are set to retire in 2024.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Industry people involved with the decade-long project expect the deal to be signed in the coming months as most contentious issues have been resolved including costs. Early conclusion of the R&D contract will pave way for testing Indo-Russia FGFA fighter to the IAF in the next three years with the flying platform made by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The FGFA will be based on the Sukhoi-designed PAK-FA.

"The IAF FGFA would be powered by the second stage engine of the PAK-FA which is still under development. PAK-FA is being developed using NPO Saturn AL-41F1 engine, which will also power the initial production lot. The second stage engine, unofficially referred to as Product 30, is expected to start flight trials in end-2017," Vijainder K. Thakur, senior editor of Geopolitics and former IAF squadron leader, said.

News Report: Russia, India Agree Details of First ‘Interspecific’ Military Drill Indra 2017

Russian and Indian military officials met Friday to prepare for the upcoming Indra 2017 drill that will bring together various types of armed forces for a joint exercise on land, in the air and at sea, according to the Russian Navy.

VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) — Russian and Indian military officials met Friday to prepare for the upcoming Indra 2017 drill that will bring together various types of armed forces for a joint exercise on land, in the air and at sea, a Russian Navy spokesman said.

"Representatives of Russia and India discussed arrangements for joint international maneuvers, practical action scenarios for forces and the composition of troops and equipment," Vladimir Matveyev, spokesman for the Russian Eastern Military District’s Pacific Fleet said.

The parties signed a protocol of the second conference convened in preparation for the war games, which were announced this June by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

The exercise to improve coordination is scheduled for this fall. Last year’s edition of the maneuvers in Russia’s easternmost Primorsky region consisted of separate naval, air and anti-terror exercises.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Russia, India to hold joint military drills in fall

MOSCOW, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The joint Russian-Indian exercise, Indra-2017, is planned to be held in the fall in Russia's Eastern Military District, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Friday.

"Military cooperation is an important component and pillar of Russian-Indian strategic interaction. A particularly important aspect of this cooperation is joint military exercises," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation with Indian Minister of Defence Arun Jaitley.

Such drills contribute to an increase of the prestige of the armed forces of the two countries and demonstrate the readiness of their defense departments to effectively counter modern challenges and threats, Shoigu said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: India, Russia to iron out defense projects worth $10B

Russian T-50 PAK FA, base design for India's FGFA

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the U.S. for his first meeting with President Donald Trump, Arun Jaitley, India's finance minister and defense minister, is visiting Moscow to finalize weapons projects worth $10 billion that are "held up in the last stages." 

Jaitley will "iron out" weapons projects during his talks on with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Defence Minister Gen. Sergey Shoygu at the 17th Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation in Moscow, an Indian Ministry of Defence official said. 

The weapons projects worth over $10 billion that are in the final stages of discussions include the purchase of S-400 air defense systems, the acquisition of four Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates and the acquisition of 200 Kamov 226T light utility helicopters, or LUH, under the Make in India category. In addition, the lease of the second nuclear-powered submarine that is also in the final stages will be discussed. 

The MoD official said one of the major sticking points between India and Russia, which has been affected by U.S. sanctions against Russia pertaining to bank guarantees, has been resolved. 

The sanctions disabled Indian banks from issuing guarantees to tie up with leading Russian banks. 

According to Indian procurement law, Russia has to furnish bank guarantees from an Indian bank, which, in turn, has to tie up with a Russian bank. In addition, the bank guarantee should be made by a leading Russian bank, which are all under U.S. sanctions.

"Jaitely will tell his counterparts (in Russia) that an amendment will be made (here) so that only a sovereign guarantee would be sufficient to execute the purchase orders doing away with the necessity of bank guarantees," an MoD official noted. 

The main defense project that was affected because of the bank guarantee issue was the Oct. 2016 $5 billion deal on Indo-Russian Krivak class frigates. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Indian defense minister leaves on Russia visit

NEW DELHI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- India's Defense minister Arun Jaitley left for Russia Tuesday on a three-day visit, officials said.

"The minister is embarking on three-day visit from today to Russia with a high level Indian delegation, to co-chair two meetings with the government of the Russian Federation," a government spokesman said.

Jaitley who is senior Indian minister also holds the portfolio of Finance and Corporate Affairs.

Read the full story at Xinhua

India: India-Russia Military Industrial Conference

Minister of Defence, Finance and Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley while inaugurating the India-Russia Military Industrial Conference here today said relations with Russia are a key pillar of India’s foreign policy and Russia has been India’s long standing time-tested strategic partner since the last 70 years. The Minister stated that since the signing of the India-Russia Strategic Partnership in 2000, ties between the two sides have acquired new heights with enhanced level of cooperation in almost all areas including defence. Shri Jaitley further added that India-Russia Military Technical Cooperation has graduated from a simple buyer-seller relation to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence systems. The Brahmos Missile System as well as the licensed production of SU-30 in India are examples of such flagship cooperation, he emphasised. He called upon Russian companies to come forward for technology transfer to Indian companies and facilitate manufacturing of components/ parts and sub-systems at least for those cases where the requirement is in large numbers and is recurring in nature. The Minister was of the opinion that there is tremendous potential for collaboration between Indian and Russian companies for export, so as to become part of the global supply chain. 

News Report: India Sanctions Engine Repair Facility for Naval Carrier Aircraft MiG 29K

MiG-29K Fighter on the deck of INS Vikramaditya

Indian Navy has announced a tender for 57 multi-role carrier borne fighters. Russian Aircraft has announced its willingness to participate in this bid.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – In a bid to improve serviceability of carrier aircraft MiG 29K, Indian government has decided to set up an ‘intermediate’ engine repair facility for MiG 29k fighter jets at the Indian Navy base at Goa. Indian Navy has 45 such jets that operate from sea-borne aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov i.e INS Vikramaditya. Russia has completed the delivery of all the contracted fourth generation multi role fighters in 2016.

“This was a long overdue measure. There was always an understanding between India and Russia that once these aircrafts come, a repair facility will be installed but somehow it got delayed. Indian Navy was pressurizing to government for more than 2-3 years for repair facility in Goa where squadron is based. As we know that serviceability of MiG 29K jets is very low and Indian Navy was struggling to find spare parts for the aircraft, sanctioning of this repair facility is definitely a welcome step,” says Indian Naval Commander Abhijit Singh (retired).

News Story: Russia to arm T-50 PAK FAs with BrahMos light cruise missiles

by Ryan Maass

A BrahMos light cruise missile is in development for future use on Russia's 5th-generation T-50 PAK FA fighter aircraft.

According to an announcement made by Machine-Building R&D Consortium CEO and general designer Alexander Leonov, Russia will collaborate with India to develop smaller variants of the BrahMos cruise missile to integrate with new air-based platforms.

"We are working on the missile's light version," Russia's Tass news agency quoted Leonov as saying. "It should fit the size of a torpedo tube and be almost 1.5 times smaller by its weight. It will be possible to mount our airborne missile on a wide range [of aircraft]."

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Report: India Considers Russia 'Abiding Friend,' Bilateral Cooperation Deepening - PM

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi states that Russia is Indian friend and strategic partner.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — India considers Russia as its "abiding" friend and strategic partner amid deepening of the cooperation between the two states, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday.

"Russia is an abiding friend. [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and I have held long conversations on the challenges that confront the world today. Our trusted and strategic partnership, especially in the field of defense has deepened," Modi said at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Raisina Dialogue forum in New Delhi.

He added that the bilateral cooperation in the spheres of energy and trade, as well as in the areas of science and technologies was very successful.

Russia and India have enjoyed mutually beneficial strategic relations, especially in the field of energy and defense and military cooperation, since the 1960s.

Besides, New Delhi and Moscow are developing partnership within the framework of numerous international organizations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS group of developing economies.

The Raisina Dialogue is an international conference established in India in 2016. The event gather together experts in geopolitics and geoeconomics from different countries to discuss issues, such as India's relations with its neighbors, as well as with other countries in the world.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Report: India, Russia to Review Ties in Trump Geopolitical Era

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin is arriving in India next week to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Rogozin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summit to evaluate the play of Indo-Russian ties since the previous Putin-Modi summit in Goa.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India and Russia will take stock of their bilateral ties in times of Trump Presidency in the US when Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat. This will be the first high-level Indo-Russia meeting after Donald Trump won the US Presidential elections. It will also be the first high-level contact after the Putin-Modi summit on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Goa.

Rogozin is officially attending the "Vibrant Gujarat Summit" in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and will utilize the opportunity for a high level political and strategic dialogue.

News Story: Indian Astra Missile Still Needs Russian Tech To Find Targets

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — In conflict with claims that India's 40-kilometer-range Astra Mark-1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) is indigenous, the Indian Air Force (IAF) says it will forever be dependent on Russia for the missile's critical technologies. 

The IAF says the missile's developer, state-owned Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), simply cannot produce it fully in-house. 

"The missile seeker (main part for guidance) is based on Russian R-77 radar seeker in Astra Mark-1, and the homemade seeker has not been developed," according to a senior IAF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

The seeker helps in firing the missile from beyond visual range, tracking and then locking onto the target, the IAF official explained. It also provides the capability to follow its target despite complicated maneuvers, the official added. 

"Astra missile is unlikely to be fully indigenous, as critical components like active sensor and proximity fuses would have to be imported as of now," said Daljit Singh, a retired IAF air marshal and defense analyst. 

However, a DRDO scientist said the "radio frequency seeker is a transfer of technology from Russia, but the other subassembly is indigenous." 

"After the latest tests (Dec.11-13), Astra Mark-1 missile will get into induction stage in another six to eight months," according to the DRDO scientist.  

But the IAF official said the service may not induct the Astra Mark-1 missile because it's unsure if it will even be proven in the field. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Russian-Indian naval exercise scheduled for Dec. 14-21

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The joint Russian-Indian naval exercise, code-named Indra NAVY-2016, will be held on Dec. 14 to 21, said the Russian Pacific Fleet's spokesman Vladimir Matveev.

The joint exercise will consist of two phases: the Harbor Phase will be held on Dec. 14 to 18 in southeastern Indian city of Visakhapatnam and the Sea Phase will take place in the Bay of Bengal on Dec. 19 to 21, said the spokesman.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: India Considers More Active Military Role in Afghanistan

An Afghan Air Force AN-32 (Image: Wiki Commons)

India has assessed requirement of spare parts to restore dozens of Russian made military helicopters and transport aircraft. India remains non-committal to supply military spare parts to Afghanistan despite having unique agreement with Russia since year 2014.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India may be willing to play a more active military role in Afpak theatre as New Delhi might seek support from Moscow to restore Afghan Government's Soviet-era idle helicopters and military equipment.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could discuss the issue with leaders of Afghanistan and Russia during the sixth ‘Heart of Asia' conference to be held this week-end in the border town of Amritsar. 

Afghanistan had presented a wish list of spare parts for refurbishing over four dozen helicopters and some An-32 medium lift aircraft. Afghanistan has also requested brand new T-72 tanks, 105 mm howitzers and AN-32 transport planes. 

News Story: Resurrection of Indo-Russia Ties Seen in $10B Defense Agreement

S-400 Tiumf (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — The defense agreement made between India and Russia on Saturday is being viewed by some analysts as a resurrection of a strategic partnership between the two countries following a four-year gap in defense ties. 

However, this spurt in big-ticket defense programs, worth a total of $10 billion, with Russia after 2012 is not being taken as a course correction by India away from United States, with whom the ruling Modi government warmed up after coming to power in mid-2014. 

"There is no correction away from USA. India has a strong and long-standing defense partnership with Russia, which gets reinforced periodically," said Vivek Rae, the Indian Ministry of Defence's (MoD) former director general of acquisition. "Russia has been a reliable friend and partner for several decades. This is a strategic partnership which has stood the test of time." 

The agreement is for the purchase of $5 billion worth of S-400 Tiumf air defense systems, four stealth frigates for $4 billion and the formation of a joint venture to manufacture Kampov-226T light  

utility helicopters in India worth more than $1 billion. 

An MoD official said most of the negotiations for the S-400 systems are complete and should be among the first contracts to be inked in the near future. The final contracts for the defense programs are likely to be finalized in the next six months, the MoD official added. 

The last major defense deal between India and Russia was signed in 2012, which included a $1.6 billion deal for India to purchase 42 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets and a $1.3 billion contract for the delivery of 71 Mi-17 V5 helicopters. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Russian President grants interview on Rusian-Indian relations

Hanoi (VNA) – President of Russia Vladimir Putin has granted an interview to Sputnik news agency and radio and IANS News Agency on Russia-India relations.

The following is the full text of the interview.

“Question: Russian-Indian relations can be qualified as privileged strategic partnership. As to the economy, a perfect example of this point is cooperation in atomic energy, in particular, the construction of the Kudankulam NPP. What other areas of Russian-Indian cooperation can speak to a similar success?

“President of Russia Vladimir Putin: India is Russia's especially privileged strategic partner. Cooperation between our countries is making good headway in all areas on the basis of strong traditions of friendship, trust and mutual respect.

“Russia and India are allies in ensuring strategic security and stability, and building an equitable world order. We work closely within the leading multilateral organisations such as BRICS, the G20, and the UN.

“This October marks 16 years of the signing of the key instrument for Russian-Indian relations, the Declaration on Strategic Partnership. We have done much to further the entire mechanism of bilateral ties during this period.

“The two countries maintain active political dialogue, with summits taking place every year. The Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation is also working efficiently. Our foreign ministers, heads of staff of security councils and line ministries keep in touch on a regular basis. There is a gradual increase in inter-parliamentary, interregional, business and humanitarian exchanges. We have developed a strong legal framework featuring over 250 agreements.

“India has been and remains Russia's major foreign trade partner. Even though in 2015 trade between the countries dropped by 7.8 percent, together with our Indian partners, we are resolved to overcome the negative trend, which, in our opinion, is largely associated with volatility on the global markets and in exchange rates. Especially since our commercial exchanges are mutually beneficial and their structure shows the complementarity of the two economies. Chemicals and engineering products account for a considerable share of Russia’s exports and the exports from your country.

“The energy sector plays an important role in trade and economic cooperation between Russia and India. Construction of the Kudankulam NPP is the largest long-term project. In August 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I took part in a ceremony dedicated to the handover of the first unit of the Kudankulam NPP to the Republic of India. The second unit will be put into operation in the near future. Operation of the first and second units at their rated capacity will significantly increase the energy supply in India and strengthen its energy security.

“Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India began preparations for the construction of units 3 and 4. Works are being carried out according to the agreed schedule. The project is implemented with funding from the Russian Federation: the government loan stands at $3.4 billion, or 85 percent of the total value of contracts concluded with the Russian organisations. We are now working on the localisation of component manufacturing in India. We began assessing the construction of nuclear power plants at other sites in India. Technological cooperation in the field of uranium enrichment is being established.

“We are strengthening bilateral cooperation in the conventional energy sector. During the St Petersburg International Economic Forum held in June 2016, Rosneft and an Indian consortium signed a contract for the sale of 23.9 percent of shares in Vankorneft, which owns the Vankor field in the Krasnoyarsk Region. Besides, Rosneft sold a stake of shares in the Taas-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha, a company developing a field in East Siberia, to Indian companies.

“Improving the structure of goods turnover by increasing the deliveries of high technology products and developing industrial cooperation is a topical issue. Well-known Russian companies, such as Silovye Mashiny, Gazprom, Stroytransgaz, Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), Uralmashzavod, SIBUR Holding, Mechel, KAMAZ and many others, are operating in the Indian market.

“Implementation of large promising projects is underway in engineering, chemical and mining industries, aircraft engineering, pharmaceuticals, medicine, nano- and biotechnology. Cooperation in finance and banking, which involves, among others, the VTB Bank and Sberbank of Russia, is advancing. It is obvious that the Russian companies see real prospects and high attractiveness of the Indian market.

“Our countries actively collaborate in the military technical field. Russia remains in the lead in terms of both direct supplies of most advanced weapons and military equipment and conducting joint researches with India, as well as producing goods for military purposes. The construction of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the development of a new, fifth generation fighter aircraft are mong the successful joint projects.

“Let me add that many of the Russian projects in India not only have commercial importance but also play a significant social and economic role for the economies of the two countries. They harmoniously fit in the new Indian industrialisation programme proposed by Mr Modi.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Report: India Not Approving of Russia-Pakistan Military Cooperation

Indian Ambassador to Moscow Pankaj Saran said that New Delhi was satisfied with the level of strategic and privileged partnership between Russia and India.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — India considers the Russia-Pakistan military cooperation to be a wrong foreign policy approach which can bring problems in future, Indian Ambassador to Moscow Pankaj Saran told RIA Novosti in an interview on Friday.

"We have conveyed our views to the Russian side that military cooperation with Pakistan, which is a state that sponsors and practices terrorism, as a matter of state policy is a wrong approach. It will only create further problems," Saran said. 

At the same time, the ambassador said that New Delhi was satisfied with the level of strategic and privileged partnership between Russia and India. 

News Report: Every Country Has Right to Defend Itself - Russian Envoy in India

While welcoming the surgical strike by India, the Russian ambassador to India said Russia stands with India in opposing and fighting cross border terrorism.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Russian ambassador to India Alexander M Kadakin said that Russia had always supported India in its fight against the cross border terrorism.

"I am always with India to opposing and fighting the cross border terrorism and we stand for the government they have to take steps," Alexander Kadakin told to an Indian news channel. 

He further added that, we are against the terrorist attacks across the border against India. 

"The greatest human rights violations take place when terrorists attack military installations and attack peaceful civilians in India. We welcome the surgical strike. Every country has the right to defend itself," Alexander Kadakin told. 

News Story: Indian, Russian Leaders To Discuss Big-Ticket Defense Projects

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India has lined up several big-ticket defense projects for discussion between its prime minister, Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit meeting in Goa next month, according to a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official.

The projects include the purchase of S-400 air defense systems worth $6 billion; finalization of the long-pending joint development of fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) worth more than $20 billion; leasing of a second nuclear-powered submarine worth more than $1 billion; and acquisition of $4 billion worth of stealth frigates to replace the Indian Navy’s Russian-built Rajput-class warships.

The MoD official said that the defense projects, most of which are already at the negotiating stage, were discussed at the 16th India-Russia Military Technical Cooperation Working Group meeting that took place Sept. 7-8 in New Delhi.

It’s likely that some of them could get the "final go ahead" during the Modi-Putin meeting, the official said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Read the full story at DefenseNews