India, Russia to form aftersales support groups

This was agreed between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart General Sergei Shoigu at the 19th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation meeting.

(FILES) In this handout file photograph released by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on January 6, 2014, the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier (L) arrives in the Indian Navy's Area of Operation alongside ships from India's western fleet in the Arabian Sea. A refurbished ex-Soviet aircraft carrier arrived in India six years late, ending a wrangle that strained ties between the South Asian nation and its top arms supplier Russia. AFP PHOTO/MOD/FILES ----EDITORS NOTE---- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/MOD" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----------

India and Russia on Wednesday agreed to form specific working groups for aftersales support of key defence platforms and intensify efforts to finalise a cooperation programme for 2021-2030.

This was agreed between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart General Sergei Shoigu at the 19th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation meeting.

Mr. Singh is on a three-day visit to Russia. Mr. Singh is on a three-day visit to Russia.“The Russian side affirmed its readiness to operationalise the joint venture lndo-Russia Rifles Private Limited for the manufacture of world class Kalashnikov AK 203 rifles in India at the earliest,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.The Ministers directed the respective teams to work closely for early conclusion of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support.

In September, the two countries had signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for mutual cooperation in joint manufacturing of spares, components, aggregates and other material related to Russian or Soviet-origin defence equipment.

In September, the two countries signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on mutual cooperation in joint manufacturing of spares, components, aggregates and other material related to Russian or Soviet-origin arms and defence equipment.

Addressing the ‘India-Russia Defence Industry Cooperation Conference’ on Tuesday, Mr. Singh said India would provide orders for procurement of agreed quantities at mutually decided price for a period not less than five years. He expressed the hope that this would lead to “reduction in cost, reduction in timelines of the supplies and progressive indigenisation of spares.”

In this regard, he said that India would soon share with the Russian side the list of spares and items, proposed to be manufactured in India. “I hope that Russia will identify the OEMs in the next few months who can partner in production of these spares.” Mr. Singh stated.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar observed on the conference,“We need to aim for setting up 50 joint ventures (JVs) for spares and components in the next 4-5 years. Also, there is need to encourage these new JVs to take advantage of the industrial corridors of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.”

As part of measures to further deepen the military exchanges between the military training institutions, Russia would depute an officer for the National Defence College (NDC) course commencing 2020.

As a special gesture, Gen. Shoigu requested the participation of an lndian military contingent in the Army Parade on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of the victory in the Second World War. This was agreed immediately agreed by Mr. Singh, the Ministry statement said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the celebration.

The statement added that Gen. Shoigu briefed Mr. Singh on Russian operations in Syria while reaffirming Russian support to India “in the field of counter-terrorism, and stated that it accorded priority to New Delhi’s security interests in the region.”