Military-technical cooperation between Russia and India: today and tomorrow
Over the past years, India has been one of the largest importers of weapons and military equipment. In the past, 2011 and the current 2012, this Asian country came out on top in the world in terms of the volume of purchases of various systems for its armed forces. According to the World Trade Analysis Center weapons (TSAMTO), in the period from 2005 to 2012, India spent almost 28 billions on the purchase of foreign weapons. According to official Indian sources, about a hundred billion more will be spent on these needs in the next ten years. Thus, India will firmly secure itself in the first place in the list of buyers of weapons and military equipment, which will make it even more interesting for defense enterprises of different countries.
According to the same TSAMTO, 16 billions from 28 went to pay for Indian orders of Russian weapons. Over the past 10-15 years, the Indian military has often chosen precisely Russian defense products. As a result, Russia has become the largest supplier of weapons and equipment for the Indian armed forces. The second place in terms of deliveries to India is occupied by Israel, which in 2005-2012 closed contracts for a total amount of 3,8 billion. Great Britain lagged slightly behind Israel, receiving about three billion from India. As for the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of weapons - the United States - it is only in fourth place with contracts for 1,7 billion. Military-technical contracts concluded by India with another 13 countries have much smaller volumes and are not worth attention.
Recently, Russia and India signed several new contracts totaling about $ 2,9 billion. According to these agreements, in the near future Russia will supply India with components for 42 Su-30MKI fighters, as well as assemble and transfer 71 Mi-17V-5 helicopters. In addition, cooperation between Russian Helicopters and Indian enterprises will begin in the near future. It is also worth remembering the October supply contract aviation engines of the AL-31 family for a total of about $ XNUMX billion. These agreements continue a long-standing series of contracts for the supply of arms and military equipment.
It is worth noting that recently an unpleasant trend has emerged in the military-technical cooperation of Russia and India. Increasingly from India began to come unpleasant for our defense industry news. Last year, the Russian attack helicopter Mi-28NE lost the competition to the American McDonnell Douglas AH-64D Apache Longbow. A little later, our industrialists did not receive a ten billion contract, implying the construction and supply of 120 fighters. Our MiG-35 then gave way to the French Dassault Rafale. Finally, this autumn, the Russian heavy helicopter Mi-26Т2 and air tanker IL-78МК-90 lost contests, and India would be bought instead by American Boeing CH-47 Chinook and European Airbus A330MRT, respectively.
Nevertheless, despite several contracts not concluded, Rosoboronexport does not stop offering foreign countries, including India, commercially available weapons and equipment. Such intentions and actions are completely understandable: India provides about half of all Russian revenues from arms supplies, and therefore it is not profitable for us to lose a large number of contracts. In addition, the current situation with helicopters and fighters does not look sad, much less fatal. Yes, some samples of our equipment for some reason did not suit the customer. On the other hand, by losing contracts for the MiG-35 or Mi-28НЭ, Russia will earn almost eight billion on supplies of components for the assembly of Su-30MKI fighters, Mi-17В-5 helicopters and engines for aircraft. In the future, most likely, India will once again increase the volume of orders, which will affect, among other things, the distribution of Russian defense exports by country.
The current situation with Indian tenders, upon careful consideration, leads to interesting conclusions. It creates a strong impression that the Asian country is trying to increase the number of foreign countries supplying it with arms in order to reduce the influence of one or another seller on it. Thus, having a large number of Su-30MKI planes, the Indians can additionally purchase French Rafali and, in the event of deterioration in relations with Russia, not suffer from a lack or lack of spare parts. Exactly the same situation, it seems, has developed with attack helicopters. It is quite possible that the reason for the loss was the fact that the Indians simply did not suit any characteristics of the Russian technology. For example, Mi-26Т2, the loser of the American CH-47, was declared too expensive and, as a result, unprofitable.
In addition to new contracts, Russia and India are united by several old contracts. Among other special attention deserve the work on the aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya." After several years of repair, reconstruction and refurbishment, this ship is already undergoing tests. At the same time, a few months ago, a technical issue was discovered concerning the power plant. After a series of consultations, the Russian and Indian sides agreed on ways to solve the problem and, as a result, in the coming months the ship will be ready for transfer to the customer. So far, as the deadline for “Vikramadity”, the year was called 2013, without specifying the month. Given the weather conditions in the Barents Sea, it can be assumed that new tests of the repaired aircraft carrier will begin not earlier than the middle or even the end of spring. Thus, the Indian fleet will receive a new aircraft carrier, at least in the summer of next year. With respect to the ship "Vikramaditya" India has no complaints and peacefully waiting for the completion of all necessary work.
As you can see, military-technical cooperation with India has a twofold look. On the one hand, in recent years our defense enterprises have not received several fairly large contracts at once, but on the other hand, other orders have been placed at some other factories. Thus, the cooperation of countries continues in a mutually beneficial way. India is trying to avoid dependence on the supply of arms and military equipment from one country, while Russia continues to receive lucrative large contracts. Of course, I would like to increase my share in Indian imports, but the leadership of an Asian country seems to have slightly different plans. So, under current conditions, it is worthwhile to continue offering our products to Indians, especially since in the coming years they intend to spend on such things more than huge sums.
According to the same TSAMTO, 16 billions from 28 went to pay for Indian orders of Russian weapons. Over the past 10-15 years, the Indian military has often chosen precisely Russian defense products. As a result, Russia has become the largest supplier of weapons and equipment for the Indian armed forces. The second place in terms of deliveries to India is occupied by Israel, which in 2005-2012 closed contracts for a total amount of 3,8 billion. Great Britain lagged slightly behind Israel, receiving about three billion from India. As for the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of weapons - the United States - it is only in fourth place with contracts for 1,7 billion. Military-technical contracts concluded by India with another 13 countries have much smaller volumes and are not worth attention.
Recently, Russia and India signed several new contracts totaling about $ 2,9 billion. According to these agreements, in the near future Russia will supply India with components for 42 Su-30MKI fighters, as well as assemble and transfer 71 Mi-17V-5 helicopters. In addition, cooperation between Russian Helicopters and Indian enterprises will begin in the near future. It is also worth remembering the October supply contract aviation engines of the AL-31 family for a total of about $ XNUMX billion. These agreements continue a long-standing series of contracts for the supply of arms and military equipment.
It is worth noting that recently an unpleasant trend has emerged in the military-technical cooperation of Russia and India. Increasingly from India began to come unpleasant for our defense industry news. Last year, the Russian attack helicopter Mi-28NE lost the competition to the American McDonnell Douglas AH-64D Apache Longbow. A little later, our industrialists did not receive a ten billion contract, implying the construction and supply of 120 fighters. Our MiG-35 then gave way to the French Dassault Rafale. Finally, this autumn, the Russian heavy helicopter Mi-26Т2 and air tanker IL-78МК-90 lost contests, and India would be bought instead by American Boeing CH-47 Chinook and European Airbus A330MRT, respectively.
Nevertheless, despite several contracts not concluded, Rosoboronexport does not stop offering foreign countries, including India, commercially available weapons and equipment. Such intentions and actions are completely understandable: India provides about half of all Russian revenues from arms supplies, and therefore it is not profitable for us to lose a large number of contracts. In addition, the current situation with helicopters and fighters does not look sad, much less fatal. Yes, some samples of our equipment for some reason did not suit the customer. On the other hand, by losing contracts for the MiG-35 or Mi-28НЭ, Russia will earn almost eight billion on supplies of components for the assembly of Su-30MKI fighters, Mi-17В-5 helicopters and engines for aircraft. In the future, most likely, India will once again increase the volume of orders, which will affect, among other things, the distribution of Russian defense exports by country.
The current situation with Indian tenders, upon careful consideration, leads to interesting conclusions. It creates a strong impression that the Asian country is trying to increase the number of foreign countries supplying it with arms in order to reduce the influence of one or another seller on it. Thus, having a large number of Su-30MKI planes, the Indians can additionally purchase French Rafali and, in the event of deterioration in relations with Russia, not suffer from a lack or lack of spare parts. Exactly the same situation, it seems, has developed with attack helicopters. It is quite possible that the reason for the loss was the fact that the Indians simply did not suit any characteristics of the Russian technology. For example, Mi-26Т2, the loser of the American CH-47, was declared too expensive and, as a result, unprofitable.
In addition to new contracts, Russia and India are united by several old contracts. Among other special attention deserve the work on the aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya." After several years of repair, reconstruction and refurbishment, this ship is already undergoing tests. At the same time, a few months ago, a technical issue was discovered concerning the power plant. After a series of consultations, the Russian and Indian sides agreed on ways to solve the problem and, as a result, in the coming months the ship will be ready for transfer to the customer. So far, as the deadline for “Vikramadity”, the year was called 2013, without specifying the month. Given the weather conditions in the Barents Sea, it can be assumed that new tests of the repaired aircraft carrier will begin not earlier than the middle or even the end of spring. Thus, the Indian fleet will receive a new aircraft carrier, at least in the summer of next year. With respect to the ship "Vikramaditya" India has no complaints and peacefully waiting for the completion of all necessary work.
As you can see, military-technical cooperation with India has a twofold look. On the one hand, in recent years our defense enterprises have not received several fairly large contracts at once, but on the other hand, other orders have been placed at some other factories. Thus, the cooperation of countries continues in a mutually beneficial way. India is trying to avoid dependence on the supply of arms and military equipment from one country, while Russia continues to receive lucrative large contracts. Of course, I would like to increase my share in Indian imports, but the leadership of an Asian country seems to have slightly different plans. So, under current conditions, it is worthwhile to continue offering our products to Indians, especially since in the coming years they intend to spend on such things more than huge sums.
Information