Russian Arms in Indian Forces
18 Aug, 2001 · 549
Wg Cdr NK Pant points to the recurrent problems in the Indo-Russian defence purchases and argues for a looking for alternative suppliers of defence equipment
During the preceding year,
India has finalised several long-pending defence contracts with
Russia worth nearly $3 billion for 150 SU-30MKI multi-role fighters, a more powerful version of the 40 MI-17 IV helicopters and 310 T-90S main battle tanks (MBTs). The MBTs have successfully undergone user trials by the Indian army in the Rajasthan desert during the preceding summers. Under the deal,
India will receive 124 of
Russia ’s top-of-the-line tanks directly and assemble another 186 at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi near Chennai. The final price tag is estimated between $600 million and $750 million.
Russia supplying the carrier free, provided
India pays for its modernization and buys upto 60 MiG-29K fighters to be based on the Gorshkov at a total cost of more than $2 billion. Besides, the St. Petersburg-based ship building facility is busy manufacturing the second of the three Krivak III frigates that
India had ordered at a total cost of more than $1 billion in 1997.
India has also purchased Kilo class submarines and is reportedly eyeing nuclear powered submarines for acquisition.
New Delhi has signed a contract to locally build 150 Sukhoi Su-30MK multirole fighters of which it has bought 40 for $1.8 billion four years ago. Over the past three years, the Indian Air Force has received 18 Su-30s, while the remaining 22 are to be delivered by 2002 in progressively advanced configurations. Experts consider the purchase of SU-30MKI at $35 million apiece as cheap. Similar aircraft in the western arms market would cost between $75 to $100 million. Now,
Moscow has gone a step further by proposing to associate
India with the development of the latest multi role jet fighter as a successor to the Su-30 being planned by the Sukhoi design bureau.
India is also interested in licensed production of the top-selling S-300 air defense systems, but the necessary decision is yet to be arrived at.
Russia is reportedly selling India Tangushka air defence missiles in addition to several hundred Igla portable anti-aircraft missile systems worth tens of millions of dollars.
Moscow ’s friendship had endured difficult cold war years including the post Pokhran II travails. But, the fast changing international scenario offer
New Delhi other avenues of arms supply in the West including the
US , after the sanctions are lifted. These new vistas need to be explored in the national interest.
The Indian Navy is keen to acquire the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier for the price of its refit. This will include configuring the vessel with a 12° ski-jump to provide a short-take-off-but-arrested-recovery capability for its air group. The package will include around 20 MiG-29K fighters for the carrier and Kamov Ka-28 and Ka-31 early warning helicopters. The deal will provide for
There are proposals for India’s acquisition of six S-300PMU1 low- to high- altitude air-defence systems for protection against missiles and aircraft, the BM 9A52 Smerch 300 multiple rocket system and the possible lease of four Tu-22 ‘Backfire’ bombers.
But the political will and cordiality at the top does not seem to have filtered down to the functional level. Despite the best intentions of the two countries to work together that would reflect their strategic understanding, the Russian record on arms supply to the Indian armed forces has been full of glitches. It has suffered from various factors such as unending delays, overpricing, erratic supply of spares and passing off used equipment as new ones. Three fourth of the Indian armed forces’ combat inventory is of Russian origin and starving the frontline formations of spares reflects on operational readiness. The transport fleet of the Indian Air Force suffers from perennial shortages of spares since it is mostly of Russian origin. The inordinate delay in the upgradation programme of the MiG-21 fleet has placed the IAF in quandary. The slippages in meeting the deadline by a couple of years has jeopardised operational planning and defence preparedness. There have also been undue delays in supply of Su-30 MKI aircraft to the IAF.
Despite the current Indo-Russian strategic dialogue and friendly warmth, one can still raise a pertinent question—Should India put all her military eggs in the Russian basket? It must not be forgotten that the Russians are very keen to have Indian orders for armaments to keep their large defence industrial complex running and to earn precious hard currency. There is no denying that
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