Russia - India Strategic Relationship: News

It is a good aircraft that can be offered up for joint production, Rogozin said.

The Ilyushin Il-114-300 project in the future can become a basis for setting up a Russian-Indian joint venture, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said at a meeting on aviation development. According to him, a pertinent presentation has already been prepared by the Ilyushin Design Bureau and forwarded to India.

"We believe it is a good aircraft that can be offered up for joint production. At least, we will begin with assembling the aircraft on Indian territory, paving the way for its joint production in India and other countries," he said.

At the same time, Rogozin stressed that in the beginning the project’s full-scale production should be set up in Russia. He said that upon the president’s instructions the work was being wrapped up and "soon a document will be put forward, containing a synchronized schedule on the purchase of aircraft for our air companies, and the production capacities as well."

"We won’t encourage air companies to use foreign-made aircraft any more, if this sort of aircraft can be produced in Russia," Rogozin stated. "This is a tough restriction that we employ in order to protect our domestic market. We are a great aviation power and we should be ashamed of buying foreign aircraft for popular routes."

He also said that the Ilyushin Il-114-300 aircraft should be of high-quality, "its flying characteristics and image should ensure its high demand domestically and even abroad," Rogozin added. The production of the plane is scheduled to start in 2019.

First published by TASS.

https://in.rbth.com/news/2016/10/18/russia-and-india-may-set-up-joint-production-of-il-114-300-plane_639915

Russia is eying the multi-billion dollar deal for P75-I project of India under which six conventional submarines are to be built with Air Independent Propulsion systems.

With deals over USD 12 billion in kitty this month, including leasing of a second nuclear submarine, Russia hopes to bag more projects as it termed itself as not just a business partner but an “ally” who stood by India in its “darkest hours”. Russia is eying the multi-billion dollar deal for P75-I project of India under which six conventional submarines are to be built with Air Independent Propulsion systems and the next aircraft carrier project besides the deal to jointly develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft.

Asserting that there is no limit to what India and Russia can do together, a top Russian defense official claimed the US and Europeans can never give what Moscow can and has offered. “We are ready not just to deliver most serious weapons, most important weapons but continue to give our state of art technology,” Sergei Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation, an umbrella organisation of 700 hi-tech civilian and military firms, told PTI.

Watch| PM Modi, Prez Putin hold restricted talks ahead of BRICS

“Russia is a friend, an ally and not a business partner. Russia stood by India during its darkest hours. Next year will mark 70 years of our relationship. It is a long time,” he said and noted that Russia had stood by India when it faced sanctions after the 1998 nuclear tests.

“Not so in the recent past, when India was under sanctions, we were pretty much the only partner for India. “Russia has been a partner not only in every day military supplies but also most sensitive and most important supplies including a nuclear submarine which was rented to India for you to use,” said Chemezov who is also a close aide of Russian President Vladmir Putin.

“Come to think about it, I would not imagine any other country to do that, he said. Not in the past or in the future. I cannot imagine US or Europe giving India such a strategic asset,” he said when asked about the tough competition that US and Europe are giving to Russia in the Indian defence market. Not only did Russia lease out a nuclear powered submarine, it actively helped in the building India’s first indigenous nuclear weapon carrying capable submarine INS Arihant which has been inducted into the Indian Navy.

Chemezov said “it is a very special year for us and will be marked by major projects and things are starting already.” He, however, admitted that from a third person’s point of view, there might have been some decline in some areas of defense between the two countries. US and some European countries have managed to strike mega deals with India which the Russians were also competing for.

“It is not a linear sort of relationship. We feel that ties are definitely developing and increasing,” he said. Giving example of the deadly BrahMos missile, Chemezov said that not only has Russia delivered high value equipment but has also collaborated with India on developing strategic assets.

He pointed out that in late 1990s, Russia had transferred technology for Su30 MKI, India’s frontline fighter aircraft. “At that point of time, it was our most modern equipment, our most modern plane. When we had actually signed that agreement, Russia did not even equip its army with this.

“This was basically our newest highest technology. That shows and speaks about our relationship with India,” he said. He also gave the example of T90 tanks, saying they are “not in anyway less but in many way, modern than any advanced US or European technologies”. He said there is scope for cooperation in the P75-I and the aircraft carrier project.

“There is definitely scope for both of those. There is pretty much no limit to what we could do together. Anything that is within our realm of things and possibilities, means it is the same with India,” he said.

Chemezov said that Russia has already submitted its proposals for both projects.


http://indianexpress.com/article/in...ood-by-india-in-darkest-hours-russia-3098918/

HIGHLIGHTS

* Saudi state energy firm Aramco had also bid for Indian refiner Essar.

* Rosneft-Essar deal was salvaged due to involvement of Putin and Modi
.
* The tussle for Essar shows growing battle for oil markets between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

LONDON/NEW DELHI/MOSCOW: A multi-billion-dollar Russian deal to buy Indian refiner Essar was nearly sunk at the eleventh hour by a rival bid from Saudi Arabia as the two oil superpowers vie for supremacy across the world.


The deal between Essar and a consortium led by Kremlin oil giant Rosneft appeared dead in the water two months ago after Saudi state energy firm Aramco weighed in, according to seven Russia, India and Saudi-based industry sources familiar with or involved in the negotiations.


It was salvaged due to the involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who were keen for it go through, and after the consortium agreed to pay $13 billion — more than double what Rosneft had initially valued Essar at, sources told Reuters.


This made the refiner the biggest—ever foreign acquisition in India and Russia's largest outbound deal.
The tussle for Essar — a state—of—the—art plant in the world's fastest—growing fuel market — illustrates the growing battle for oil markets between Russia and Saudi Arabia, the world's two largest crude exporters.


It also sheds light on the challenges OPEC member Saudi Arabia and non—OPEC Russia — which are also fighting a proxy conflict in Syria's civil war — will face in trying to clinch a global agreement to limit output growth to prop up oil prices.


The full details of how the Essar deal was struck remain unclear. Two industry sources said it was rescued thanks to the involvement of Putin and Modi while three other sources said Rosneft had simply outbid Saudi Aramco.


Officials in Modi's office declined to comment while Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied there was any Kremlin intervention in the deal.


"Naturally, we defend the interests of our companies. Of course we lobby for them, especially on such large deals," said Peskov, but added that in the case of Essar "there were no orders from the Kremlin".


"It was a corporate decision by Rosneft to gain synergies via cooperation with India," he said.

Rosneft and Saudi Aramco declined to comment.

Essar said it had held discussions with several potential buyers but had gone with the Rosneft consortium because their offer was considered the most attractive. It denied there was any intervention from Putin or Modi.


Showdown


Rosneft boss Igor Sechin is keen to buy refining assets around the world to guarantee outlets for Russian oil. He had been negotiating since 2014 to buy 49 percent of Essar from its owners, Indian brothers Ravi and Shashi Ruia, and the two parties had been in exclusive talks since July 2015 when a preliminary deal was signed.
While the exact amount Rosneft was prepared to offer for the stake at that stage is unclear, Russian and Indian industry sources said it valued the whole of Essar at about $5.7 billion.


However it became apparent that there were problems with the deal in early September, when Sechin travelled to India to meet the Ruia brothers, flying from Hangzhou, China, where he had been part of Putin's G20 summit delegation.


Sechin walked into the meeting with the Ruia brothers soon after landing in India at 1am, determined to close the deal, according to sources briefed on the discussions.

As the meeting started, one of the brothers told Sechin the deal process had been going on for too long, the exclusivity period had expired in July and Essar was now talking to other parties.
Those other parties included Saudi Aramco, he said.

According to the sources familiar with how the meeting unfolded, Sechin responded by saying that if Essar walked away from the deal it risked losing Russian financial and oil—supply support.
The Ruia brothers then said the talks with Rosneft were over and called an abrupt end to the meeting.

"People started leaving the room, embarrassed," one of the sources said. Another source said the Essar management had drafted a statement to say the deal with Rosneft was off.

Rosneft and Essar declined to comment on what transpired at the meeting, or on whether such a statement had existed. Sechin and the Ruia brothers could not be reached for comment.

Three Saudi—based sources familiar with details of talks between Essar and Saudi Aramco said the firm was seriously considering buying Essar. One of the sources said Aramco was prepared to pay up to $9 billion for all or most of the refiner.
Aramco declined to comment on whether it had made a bid.
Too big to fail

In the end, however, the Rosneft—Essar deal proved to be too big to fail.

For India, a deal collapse or a delay because of talks with another party would set back Modi's drive to clean up India's $140 billion mountain of bad debt given Essar's multi—billion—dollar debts to local and foreign banks after years of rapid expansion.

For Russia, the deal in the huge Indian market represented an important milestone in building a global oil empire despite Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

Facing the Saudi competition, Rosneft formed a consortium that bought 98 per cent of the refiner plus a fuel terminal for $13 billion. The Kremlin oil firm bought 49 percent — below the 50 percent level that would have fallen foul of Western sanctions — with Swiss trading house Trafigura and Russian private investment group UCP buying the other 49 percent.

According to the Indian and Russian industry sources, Rosneft and Essar returned to the negotiating table within days of the spat in early September, and the deal was finally struck.

One of the sources said there was a fierce battle between Essar and Rosneft over the terms. They said the Russian—led consortium was forced to outbid the Saudi offer, which they said comprised a
combination of cash, long—term low interest credit and oil supplies.
Trafigura declined to comment on how the deal came together, while UCP did not reply to a written request asking for comment. Washington said the deal did not violate sanctions.

The deal was signed in Mauritius on October 14, a day before a formal announcement on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in Goa where Putin and Modi met. The leaders also oversaw the signing of a raft of other transactions including India agreeing to pay $5 billion for Russian long—range air defence missile systems.

Two industry sources said the Essar deal had first been discussed by Putin and Modi as far back as May 2014 on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Russia's main investor show.

It was unclear what form — if any — high—level government intervention might have taken after the September dispute.

But the two sources said that without political will in Moscow and New Delhi, an agreement could not have been struck.

"Putin and Modi saved that deal," said one.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/Saudi-Arabia-vs-Russia-How-Rosnefts-13-billion-Essar-deal-almost-fell-apart/articleshow/55449879.cms

India and Russia chose most feasible site for building new nuclear power plant

More:
http://tass.com/economy/914745

http://in.rbth.com/economics/defence/2016/12/02/can-moscow-retain-the-indian-arms-market_652979

2 December 2016 LEONID NERSISYAN, FORBES.RU

Russia, for many years, has occupied second place, after the United States, in sales of weaponry in the global arms market. India has played a major role in this, being Russia’s biggest arms export market. What does the future look like for these two countries in the sphere of defence cooperation?

Make in India: Russia always ready to share its technologies

A major reason for the success of Russian arms in India was that Moscow has always been willing to work on the ‘Make in India’ or localised production concept, which New Delhi has been promoting for many years.

The Government of India in November approved the signing of a new contract for licensed production of 464 T-90MS tanks – the most modern modification of this combat vehicle.

The contracts for the supply of T-90 tanks to India have allowed Russia to retain a share of around 56% of world tank sales market.

There are several reasons for the success of the T-90, which practically captured the entire Indian market. First, the price: even the newest T-90MS costs markedly less than any of its competitors. The price tag of Western tanks is $6 to 8 million, depending on the model and the configuration. This also happens to be around the same price as the ‘Arjun’ Indian-made tank.

Second, the significantly lower weight of the T-90, compared to Western tanks (because, instead of a place for the fourth crewmember, Russian tanks have an automatic loader), making it lighter and more mobile, which is very important in the Indian landscape.This is why the Indian military has decided not to purchase the Arjun – it weighs a little less than 60 tons (the T-90 weighs 46-48 tons, depending on the version) and has problems with running reliability.

Finally, with the help of Uralvagonzavod, experts in India have managed to build an enterprise to assemble and manufacture some of the components of the T-90. The contract is valued at approximately $2 billion. One T-90MS tank will cost the Indian budget $4.3 million – almost twice the price they paid for the earlier model – the T-90S ($2.5 million). According to the existing contracts (1,657 T-90S tanks) and the new agreement, India will receive a total of 2,121 T-90 tanks in total.


Will the FGFA make Russian aviation industry rich?


Perhaps the most successful deal for the Russian defence industry in India was the sale of the multi-role Su-30MKI – dual-seat upgraded version of the Russian Su-27, designed specifically to meet Indian requirements. Most of these aircraft, as well as the T-90 tanks, are assembled under licence in India. India will pay almost $12 billion for 272 Su-30MKI aircraft. The Indian Air Force is already flying approximately 230 fighters of this type at the moment. The new contract is expected to be completely fulfilled in 2018-2019.

Development of the FGFA (fifth generation fighter aircraft) is the cornerstone for the future of the Russian military aircraft industry in the world arms market. Like the Su-30, this machine is a two-seater – the Indian military prefers this, believing that two crew members can work more effectively than one, especially when performing attack missions. New Delhi plans buy around 200 aircraft of these aircraft in the future.

However, not everything is proceeding smoothly with the FGFA. India signed a contract in 2010 for the preliminary design of the aircraft, worth around $300 million, after which work on the project stalled. The Indian media voiced concerns that this Russian fighter jet, according to the local military, did not correspond to the set technical-tactical characteristics. At various times, complaints were voiced against the AL-41F1 engine (insufficient thrust) and the capabilities of radar technologies to reduce radar visibility of the aircraft.

Delhi rescues Russian ships

The Ukrainian crisis has led to Kiev cancelling all its military-technical cooperation with Russia. The Russian defence industry was able to cope quite quickly when it came to replacement of the majority of products earlier made in Ukraine. One exception was the gas turbine engines for Project 11356 frigates.

The most convenient way out of this situation, was to sell these ships to India, to which New Delhi agreed – because the country had earlier bought similar products from Russia. The frigates of Project 1135.6 ‘Talwar’ are the predecessors of Project 11356, and were developed specifically for India in the early 1990s, with New Delhi buying 6 of these ships.

India has purchased two unfinished ships (they will be finished in Russia), as well as two new ones, which will be built in India within the framework of the ‘Make in India’ programme. Ukraine has agreed to supply the required engines to India. The big plus is also the fact that these ships will be equipped with the BrahMos anti-ship missiles (ASM). These ASM will soon also equip the Su-30MKI fighter jets and, in the future, the FGFA.

A fly in the ointment

These collaborations may appear as though defence cooperation between Russia and India has been smooth sailing and hardly any problems exist for Moscow in this direction. However, this has not been the case for quite a while now. All major arms exporters are actively seeking to break into the tempting Indian market. The USA and France have significantly increased their share in the Indian market, largely due to the weakness of Russian proposals for certain items.

India, for example, held a tender for an MMRCA (Medium multi-role combat aircraft), for the supply of 126 light fighter jets to the country. The Russian MiG-35, which is a much modernized version of the current MiG-29, in fact existed only on paper, so it was not even seriously considered.

Eventually the French won this tender with their ‘Rafale’ fighter jet. However, the Indian government has bought only 36 of these aircraft, as the French arms dealers revised their prices, making them higher than those of the heavy Su-30MKI, and refused to share their production technologies with India.

Thus, the need for a lightweight fighter jet still exists in Delhi, but Russia still has nothing special to offer here – the MiG-35 being too expensive for a light fighter (largely due to the use of two engines), while other alternatives are not available. Therefore, India’s choice, logically, may fall on the long proven American single-engine F-16 fighter jet.

Another troublesome project is the MTA (Multi-role Transport Aircraft) – a tactical military transport aircraft, which was to replace more than 100 old An-32 transporters being used by the Indian Air Force, as well as the AN-12, AN-26 and AN-72 in the Russian Aerospace Forces. The project promised great profits and huge production volumes, but misunderstandings arose between the parties, even before one prototype “in the metal” could be built.

In 2015, India officially withdrew from the project. Judging by what appeared in the media, the main problem was the difference when it came to the engines that were to be used in the aircraft. Russia proposed to install a new modification of the time-tested PS-90, while India sought the creation of a completely new engine, fitted with a digital control system (FADEC), which ensured minimum fuel consumption.

This loss for the United Aircraft Corporation has been a big setback, because the Russian Aerospace Forces also needed the MTA. With reduced funding, because of the economic crisis, building such an aircraft without external financing will be very difficult. It may be worthwhile to try to revive this project, especially since India does not have many alternatives – either purchase a rather expensive American C-130, which they will hardly allow to be assembled in India, or the rather poor-performing European A-400M.

First published in Russian by Forbes.ru.

Thus, the need for a lightweight fighter jet still exists in Delhi, but Russia still has nothing special to offer here – the MiG-35 being too expensive for a light fighter (largely due to the use of two engines), while other alternatives are not available. Therefore, India’s choice, logically, may fall on the long proven American single-engine F-16 fighter jet.

If the MiG-35 is too expensive then buy MiG-29M2 and upgrade it when the expensive bits get cheaper.

But the reality is that they never intended to buy MiGs... they wanted M2ks and were only offered Rafales... 12 billion for 272 Su-30s.... why piss around with Rafale when they could just spend the 10 billion for the MRCA contract and buy 240 more Flankers...

Single engined F-16s... yeah right... Flanker pilots will shoot them down...

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-russia-to-sign-gpa-on-kudankulam-units-5-6-in-december-1633758

NEW DELHI: India and Russia are likely to sign the General Framework Agreement (GFA) on Kudankulam units 5 and 6 by this month.
"Leaders of the two countries (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin) had set a deadline to sign the General Framework Agreement for units 5 and 6 by the end of this month. The work is on and we are trying to stick to deadline," a top official of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) said.
The joint statement, during Mr Putin's visit to India this year, had stated that the two countries will try to complete the GFA by the end of the year.

Negotiations for the contract are still on and details are being worked out by Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and Rosatom, nuclear power agency of Russia.

Work on the ground breaking ceremony for unit 3 and 4 was held early this year.

The agreement for the project was inked by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and then Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1988, but the actual work started only in 1997.

The unit 1 and 2 of Kudankulam plant were built at a cost of Rs. 20,962 crore. A major share of power generated in the plant goes to Tamil Nadu, followed by Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. Unit 1 was started in October 2013, while the second unit was connected to grid in August this year. Unit 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam are expected to be commissioned by 2022-23.

The Russian built Water-Water Energetic Reactor (VVER) reactor Kudankulam unit 1 and 2 are the largest power generating stations in the country. After all the units (1-6) of the plant are commissioned, the nuclear park will have the power generating capacity of 6,000 MW.


(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

GarryB wrote:

Thus, the need for a lightweight fighter jet still exists in Delhi, but Russia still has nothing special to offer here – the MiG-35 being too expensive for a light fighter (largely due to the use of two engines), while other alternatives are not available. Therefore, India’s choice, logically, may fall on the long proven American single-engine F-16 fighter jet.

If the MiG-35 is too expensive then buy MiG-29M2 and upgrade it when the expensive bits get cheaper.

But the reality is that they never intended to buy MiGs... they wanted M2ks and were only offered Rafales... 12 billion for 272 Su-30s.... why piss around with Rafale when they could just spend the 10 billion for the MRCA contract and buy 240 more Flankers...

Single engined F-16s... yeah right... Flanker pilots will shoot them down...

This tender was to simply cater to Narendra Modi's corrupt friends who got paid a suitcase of money by Lockheed. This entire tender from the get go was to purchase the jets from them but they are making a scene by making it look like they are catering to all sides but in reality it isn't going to do anything other than make people highly suspicious of India's business deals.

This should have been quite noticeable when they made it clear for a single jet engine fighter. Everyone knows Russia doesn't make single jet engine fighters anymore. Add to that, there really isn't anything special about single jet engine fighters as the engine needed to power it is about as expensive or more so than two RD-33 engines, and maintenance will be the same. All the while, the two jet engines are more reliable so that if 1 fails, you do not drop to the earth.

While F-16 is a good jet, India isn't doing its service by buying new ones. On contrary, they are replacing an old jet with a new jet that is just old as well in terms of design. The Teja's in all purpose was about same quality as F-16 and at least it is ready for production already instead of holding another tender. Some people here will think that they can do both, but that would end up making India worst than Saudi Arabia for commonality and logistics, and will end up a further blight to its airforce than anything else.

Yes, those Sukhois are far better, and India even proved it so during exercises. But when it comes to the corrupt base of India and its politics, there is no limit. If the US and Brits handed them enough cash to retire their Su-30MKI's for less capable F-18S/H or even significantly less capable F-16's (This was tested by Indonesia and proven by them of how good the Sukhois where), they would do it without a second thought. Indian's have a price, and no longer have pride. I don't blame them, I blame the British who left behind such a system that they created since Indian's weren't always like this throughout history. But they are now and Indians who post otherwise cannot see beyond their own two feet.

NEW DELHI: Despite India expanding its military ties with the US, Europe and Israel, Russia remains New Delhi's number one supplier of weapons with America at a distant second, according to a report on global arms trade in the last five years.

From 2012 to 2016, Russia supplied 68 per cent of India's arms import, as per the survey by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) - an international think-tank that researches on conflict, armaments, arms control and disaarmament.

In the same period, the US supplied 14 per cent of arms to India, followed by Israel (7.2 per cent).

The SIPRI report also foresees Russia maintaining the lead in supplying weapons to India - which has emerged as the biggest importer of major arms with overseas procurements exceeding that of China and Pakistan.

"Based on existing orders and weapons, Russia will remain, by far, the main supplier of major arms to India for the foreseeable future," it said.

"However, India expects increasing deliveries due to several major orders from France (another traditional supplier) and from the US, South Korea and Spain - all of which only recently became suppliers of major weapons to India," said the report.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making increasing efforts towards his flagship "Make in India" initiative that also endeavours to modernize the country's ageing military equipment.

Modi has pledged $250 billion for the domestic defence industry to manufacture fighter jets, guns and submarines locally.

But the SIPRI reports hints that India will be overwhelmingly reliant on foreign imports, mainly from Russia, the US and Israel -- as has been the trend in the last five years.

"A major reason for the high level of imports is that India's arms industry has largely failed to produce competitive indigenously designed weapons," said the report.

According to it, India is also the largest buyer of Russian weapons, taking home 38 per cent of Moscow's exports. It is also the largest buyer of Israel's weapons with a 41 per cent share of its exports.

For the UK, India is the second largest buyer, with 11 per cent share of its exports.

Significantly, India does not figure in the top three buyers of US weapons although Washington has designated New Delhi as its Major Defence Partner.

According to the SIPRI report, 47 per cent of US weapons went to countries in the Middle East.

Read more at:
The five biggest arms exporters were the US, Russia, China, France and Germany, together accounting for 74 per cent of the total volume of trade in weapons in the last five years.

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/57290157.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Single engined F-16s... yeah right... Flanker pilots will shoot them down...

Sorry... I now realise my above comment might have been misunderstood.

What I was trying to suggest is that an Indian Flanker pilot sees an F-16 he will assume it is an "enemy" aircraft and his natural instinct will be to shoot it down.

People get mistaken for game and shot all the time... it is a psychology thing.

Taking relations with Russia to another level, the Indian government has begun a discussion with Moscow for setting up another defense manufacturing unit under the ‘Make in India’ program. This was discussed when Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley met his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu recently.


Russia Hopes India to Join Initiative on Non-Deploying Weapons in Space

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Jaitley did not reveal the type of weapon being discussed to make in India. "We have future plans to set up manufacturing units in India and these are subjects of discussion which came up in my bilateral meeting with the Defense Minister and I am sure with the level of engagement we have, this relationship will continue to grow," Jaitley said

The $1-billion program of joint production of Kamov-226T has taken off this month with the final approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin to set up Indo-Russian Helicopter Pvt Ltd. Russia's Rostec Corp will own 49.5 percent stake while India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will own the remaining 50.5 percent in the joint venture. Under the deal for 200 Kamov Ka-226Ts, 60 helicopters will be received in fly-away condition from Russia while another 40 will be assembled in India and the remaining 100 will be fully built in India.

"Russia has been a true and trusted friend of India, which is regarded so by the people of India and there has been a much greater cooperation at the level of defense. It is a cooperation which extends to joint military exercises, training cooperation and also with regard to the supply of equipment which India purchases from Russia," Jaitley said.

India and Russia identified a total number of 485 lines for Transfer of Technology (ToT) to support Sukhoi-30 MKI fleet. Towards this, 20 Indian vendors have been introduced to the Russian OEMs to find out the feasibility of ToT in the fields desired by Indian vendors.

In March this year, HAL signed an agreement with Russian OEMs for the long-term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance for five years which do not cover any technology transfer. The agreement will enable HAL to procure required spares based on the price catalogs directly from OEMs for the Sukhoi fleet and boost after-sales service by reducing lead time in the procurement of spares significantly

https://sputniknews.com/military/201704271053076576-india-russia-weapons-production/

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin’s visit to India and his meetings with Indian leaders set the agenda for the St. Petersburg Summit. India and Russia decided that they would speed up defense and nuclear energy projects which form the backbone of their relations.


New Delhi (Sputnik) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold the India-Russia Annual Summit on June 1, 2017 in St Petersburg.

Russian Deputy PM Rogozin met Indian Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Wednesday

At the Summit meeting between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi, agreements are likely to be signed in some new areas of cooperation like agriculture, transport corridor, trade. India is likely to ask Russia to speed up defense projects which were agreed earlier.

India-Russia relations are all set to reach a new high as the two countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

“Both the countries are trying to give a fresh impetus to their relations and make it more relevant in the changing geo-political situations wherein Russian pro-active engagement in Asia, especially South Asia, has increased considerably in recent times. Although India has become closer to the US recently, due to some issues of common interests such as counter-terrorism and defense cooperation and also an alliance to counter China in the Indian Ocean and beyond, the India-Russia strategic partnership still stands on a solid foundation,” former Indian Foreign Secretary Bhupatray Shashank told Sputnik.

https://sputniknews.com/world/201705111053496234-russia-india-st-petersburg-summit/

India and Russia sign 5 pacts: All you need to know

India and Russia have linked 5 pacts after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Prime Minister's visit to Russia.

India and Russia have linked 5 pacts after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Prime Minister's visit to Russia.

Agreements between the countries:

1. An agreement on cultural exchanges for a period of two years (2017-2019) has been signed between the two nations

2. An agreement for the construction of the third stage of the Kudankulam NPP (KK5 & KK6) along with the Credit Protocol has been signed between NPCIL and ROSATOM

3. An agreement between the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) and the Council of India on Scientific and Industrial Research has been signed to provide access to Rospatent experts to the Indian Digital Library of Traditional Knowledge (TKDL)

4. Contract between JSC (Russian Railways) and the Ministry of Railways on the preparation of the justification for the implementation of the high-speed service at the Nagpur-Secunderabad section has been signed

5. Memorandum of cooperation between ALROSA Joint Stock Company and the Council for the Promotion of the Export of Precious Stones and Jewellery of India has been signed

Other deals between India and Russia:

1. India and Russia have agreed to hold the first tri-Services exercises, named 'Indra-2017', this year

2. Both the countries have also decided to begin joint manufacturing of frigates and co-production of Kamov-226 military helicopters

3. Of all the agreements, the agreement on setting up of Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu with the Russian help was a much-awaited agreement

4. The reactors will be built by India's Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Russia's Atomstroyexport Company, which is a subsidiary of Rosatom. Rosatom is the regulatory body of the Russian nuclear complex. The two units will have a capacity to produce 1,000 MW of power

An 'Action Plan' has also been devised for speeding up the bilateral cooperation in all fields by the two countries.

http://russia-insider.com/en/us-strikes-russia-india-defense-ties/ri21405#.WfcQZO50IrQ.twitter

India will have to choose either sovereignty or vassalhood it seems.

https://twitter.com/ArtyomLukin/status/928371678387818499

Looks like India really is no friend of Russia since its allowing US access to Russian secrets as well as breaking contracts

miketheterrible wrote:https://twitter.com/ArtyomLukin/status/928371678387818499

Looks like India really is no friend of Russia since its allowing US access to Russian secrets as well as breaking contracts

They haven't really been "friends" for at least the tenure of the current and previous Indian governments....the official smiles and occasional BS posing for the cameras don't really mean much. That's why now Russia is openly seeking better ties with Pakistan

Apparently the Russian's were upset about giving acces to the aircraft carrier but since that is Indian property they only protested privately. Now the news that a US delegation was shown around the Chakra is apparently causing a possible break of the negotiations for the transfer of the second sub.

Rogozin is due to go there in December to try and resolve "several issues"

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/2937580.html

India seems in an awful hurry to become a new vassal of the reborn British Empire.

Don't be seduced, India.

Cyberspec wrote:............ Now the news that a US delegation was shown around the Chakra is apparently causing a possible break of the negotiations for the transfer of the second sub.
...............

I say give that fresh sub to Russian Navy, they need it anyway.

In case India already paid money then no refunds, fuck you very much...

flamming_python wrote:India seems in an awful hurry to become a new vassal of the reborn British Empire.

Don't be seduced, India.

That aint going to change, when you got signs everywhere in India about "studying so you can live in the US or UK". Essentially, it is every Indian's dream to be a subject of the US and UK. They are a stupid bunch of people.

JohninMK wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:

flamming_python wrote:India seems in an awful hurry to become a new vassal of the reborn British Empire.

Don't be seduced, India.

That aint going to change, when you got signs everywhere in India about "studying so you can live in the US or UK".  Essentially, it is every Indian's dream to be a subject of the US and UK.  They are a stupid bunch of people.

Not just Indians. Few understand that the image of prosperity in the West that they all aspire to is just a mirage built on a sand castle of debt.

many understand that after living here for enough time. Many said it is praised and all is a lie. I've been to India because of work. Many are good people trying. I also understand their education outside of math, English and science is extremely lacking. Many don't even know their own history, let alone others. Their government is crooked, because lets be frank here: if this was an Indian Submarine, it would have been treason. Reason? Even after all the hoopla in media between US and Pakistan, US is still funding, arming and training Pakistan. The terrorists in Kashmir, most are fighters migrated after the 80's that were trained and fought against Soviets. Most of the programs plaguing Pakistan date back to the 70's and 80's of CIA involvement.  Indians think this whole ordeal is 100% Pakistan, but it isn't.  The other one they love to ignore is that many of the terrorist supporters of Khalistan movement are in the west - Canada, US and UK.

Does Russia train and harbor Indian terrorists? No. Did they protect Indian terrorists or train them? No. Who stood by India during times of sanctions and US threats to nuke India in 76? Russia. It comes down to the fact that India is a piss poor friend. At least US and UK were never Russian friends and they make it obvious. India on the other hand is the worst due to deceit.

Indian defence minister's speech in Moscow yesterday: "Russia has re-established its role and influence in global strategic and defence matters ... the solution to the key challenges we face today require Russia’s active involvement."

http://indianembassy.ru/index.php/en/bilateral-relations/statements-speeches-interviews/2222-address-by-mrs-nirmala-sitharaman-defence-minister-of-india-at-the-seventh-moscow-conference-on-international-security-mcis-04-04-2018-on-global-security-in-a-polycentric-world

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-to-visit-russia-next-week-for-informal-summit-with-putin/

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Russia on May 21 for an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on May 14. The informal summit will be held in Russian city of Sochi.

“This will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective with the objective of further strengthening our Special and Privileged Strategic partnership,” the MEA said in a statement. It said both the leaders will also discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters.

“This informal Summit in Sochi between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest levels,” the MEA said. Last month, Modi had travelled to Chinese city of Wuhan for an informal summit with President Xi Jingpin.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/modi-in-sochi-pm-invokes-vajpayee-to-assert-india-russia-strategic-ties-5185639/

Arctic to tropics: India welcomes first-ever shipment of Russian liquefied natural gas

"Russia’s energy giant Gazprom has started supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India. The first cargo docked on Monday at the Petronet LNG terminal in India's westernmost state Gujarat.
#India’s Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said his country will import LNG from Russia worth an estimated $25 billion over the contract period of 20 years. Supplies will come from Gazprom's Yamal LNG project in the Arctic.

“Today will be considered as Golden Day in India's energy roadmap,” Pradhan told reporters. “Four years back, we were importing LNG only from Qatar. Today we are getting LNG from Australia, US and now Russia.”

The minister called the Russia-India deal very successful, saying the shipment of Russia’s LNG was a “big achievement.” He detailed that $1.5 billion worth LNG will be bought from Russia every year, adding that “Gazprom's price is very competitive.”

The world's fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas, India is diversifying imports to meet its vast energy needs. India is dependent on imports to meet 45 percent of its gas needs. According to Pradhan, the country is pushing towards a gas-based economy by raising the share of environment-friendly fuel in the energy basket to 15 percent from current 6.2 percent.

The minister called the Russia-India deal very successful, saying the shipment of Russia’s LNG was a “big achievement.” He detailed that $1.5 billion worth LNG will be bought from Russia every year, adding that “Gazprom's price is very competitive.”

The world's fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas, India is diversifying imports to meet its vast energy needs. India is dependent on imports to meet 45 percent of its gas needs. According to Pradhan, the country is pushing towards a gas-based economy by raising the share of environment-friendly fuel in the energy basket to 15 percent from current 6.2 percent."



Source: https://www.rt.com/business/428660-india-russia-first-lng/
https://twitter.com/dpradhanbjp