Acquisition of long-range air defence systems and two different kinds of helicopters are among the top issues on the agenda of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s three-day visit to Russia beginning on Saturday. These agreements are likely to be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia in December.
According to officials, India is interested in procuring S-400 Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) from Russia, which have a range of up to 400 km. Also, negotiations are expected to be wrapped up to build Kamov-226 T utility helicopters in India and buy additional Mi-17 V5 medium lift helicopters.
“They may not take a final shape during my visit but we’d like to prepare some of them for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia in December — for example, the project for joint production of Kamov Ka-226 helicopters… Also, the purchase of S-400 missile systems. We anticipate these projects to be coordinated by next month,” Mr. Parrikar said in an interview to a Russian news agency.
He is in Russia to chair the annual Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation meeting along with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
“I hope to use my visit to have it inked on paper when the Prime Minister arrives,” he said.
However, on the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) to be jointly developed by India and Russia, Mr. Parrikar said that negotiations would proceed further, but added, “We have halted ourselves to establish things clear in our minds.”
Talks on the final production agreement have been stalled due to differences in work share for the Indian side.
Projects approvedMeanwhile, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which met on Thursday, approved some long-pending deals, procurements and upgrades worth over Rs.12,000 crore but deferred a decision on the blacklisting procedures revised under the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).
Some of the major decisions include clearance for engine and avionic upgrades for the Air Force’s fleet of IL-76 transport and IL-78 mid-air refuelling aircraft for Rs. 4,300 crore, approval to digitise the 24 Pichora Surface-to-Air Missile systems at Rs. 1,800 crore, two new regiments of Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket launch systems at Rs. 3,300 crore and 149 more BMP-2 Infantry vehicles for the Army.
For the Navy, approval was accorded to issue Acceptance of Necessity for four 3,500-tonne Multi-Purpose Vessels costing Rs. 700 crore to replace the existing tug boats.
