India to step up defence purchases from Russia

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, JUNE 4. India is planning to increase defence purchases from Russia in the coming years and will seek joint development and production of new weapon systems, it was announced at the opening of a high-level defence talks here.

Over the past four years India contracted military hardware worth more than $10 billion from Russia, said the Defence and External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, opening the first session of the Intergovernment Commission (IGC) for Military-Technical Cooperation.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Ilya Klebanov, who co- chairs the IGC jointly with Mr. Singh, said the sides had identified several new R&D projects in aviation and navy.

India and Russia are holding talks on the joint development of a fifth generation lightweight frontline fighter (LFI) and will jointly produce a multi-role military transport aircraft on the basis of the IL-214 medium haul plane built by the Ilyushin design bureau.

Mr. Klebanov, who is in charge of the defence industry production and arms trade, said the two countries were also planning to undertake several projects involving new surface and underwater vessels.

``We have a packed agenda for the Intergovernmental Commission and I hope the protocol were going to sign will feature many serious and promising joint projects,'' Mr. Klebanov told reporters.

The RIA Novosti news agency quoted Mr. Klebanov as saying the deal for the sale of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India could be signed as early as August or September.

He would not reveal the value of the deal, but said that it will involve ``several dozens of contracts'' pertaining to the Gorshkov refit, onboard armaments, including aviation and port facilities.

India has substantially increased defence acquisitions in Russia and is planning to expand purchases further under an Indo-Russian defence cooperation programme through 2010, the Defence Secretary, Mr. Yogendra Narain, said briefing Indian reporters on the eve of the IGC session. ``Russian weapons are up to mark and we would like to take advantage of their latest technologies,'' Mr. Narain said.

Apart from the Gorshkov aircraft carrier, the two sides are also discussing the purchase of TU-22 long-range bombers and the Smerch (Tornado) multiple rocket launchers, the joint Russian- Israeli proposal for AWACS planes, as well as supply and integration of Russian equipment for the Project-17 frigate being built in India.

Breakthrough in deal

The Defence Secretary reported a ``breakthrough'' in streamlining the acquisition of defence spareparts from Russia. Russia has submitted catalogues and price lists for Sukhoi aircraft spareparts and agreed to expand the practice to naval and army weapons.

The sides will set up a joint committee to work out a pricing philosophy for spareparts.

``This will go a long way towards keeping our units in combat readiness,'' Mr. Narain said.

The IGC on defence is also to discuss smooth technology transfer for the manufacture of the T-90 tanks and the SU-30MKI planes in India under Russian licence.

Mr. Singh during his three-day visit to Moscow will also hold talks with the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Igor Ivanov, and will meet the President, Mr. Vladimir Putin.

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New fighter plane project to be discussed

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, JUNE 4. Russia has formally invited India to pool efforts for the construction of a new fighter jet of the fifth generation that will replace the SU-30MKI plane in the second decade of the 21st century.

The project will be discussed during the first session of the Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) for military- technical cooperation, which opened in Moscow on Monday, said Mr. Mikhail Pogosyan, head of the Sukhoi plane manufacturers.

Speaking on the sidelines of the session, Mr. Pogosyan said joint development and production of the new fighter plane will deepen and expand Indo-Russian collaboration in the construction of the SU-30MKI plane.

Two weeks ago the Russian Air Force approved updated requirements for the fifth generation Lightweight Frontline Fighter (LFI in Russian acronym) to be developed by a consortium of several Russian companies led by the Sukhoi corporation. It is planned to bring the LFI into service by 2011-2012, simultaneously with the induction of the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). However, the Russian plane will be different from the JSF.

``Our fighter will be heavier and more robust to meet tough operational conditions in the Russian Air Force,'' Mr. Pogosyan said.

While the Sukhoi corporation will continue to upgrade the SU-30 plane, the fifth generation fighter will be a new aircraft.

``To stay abreast with world technological progress we should be able to construct the new fighter within six or seven years and to put it in serial production in about 10 years from now,'' Mr. Pogosyan said.

Russia is seeking foreign investment to undertake the development of the new fighter valued at about $1 billion. The Moscow Times daily quoted defence industry sources as saying that out of Russia's arms customers ``only India and China have enough financial resources'' to help fund the project. Russia favours inviting India, the newspaper said, as it enjoys warmer relations with New Delhi than Beijing.

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