Russia to deliver more warplanes to India
Moscow reconciles to New Delhi's nuclear status
- From Yuri Golotyuk
- National Herald - Moscow, June 18
Russian and Indian deputy defence ministers negotiated here on June 15, discussing more active military technical cooperation. Such short term cooperation stipulates resumed deliveries of up to date weaponry to the Indian national Army's air force, navy and land forces.
At the same time, Russia's Nuclear Energy Minister Mr. Yevgeni Adamov left for the Indian capital, intending to negotiate a joint nuclear programme there. According to official reports, Mr. Adamov would be expected to "streamline bilateral cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy still further."
The sides are however to discuss the construction of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant (NPP) on Indian territory; that NPP is to feature two power units replete with Russian made VVER-1000 light-water reactors.
By all looks Moscow has already managed to overcome its confusion that was manifested early this May, that is, after a series on nuclear blasts at India's Pokhran testing site. According to Rusky Telegraph's sources, a study of the situation, which was conducted on the Kremlin's direct orders, has confirmed the fact that continued Russian-Indian cooperation in the most sensitive fields, etc. won't harm Russia's international image. Moreover, excessive scrupulousness can cost Moscow dearly. Russia's competitors have instantly taken advantage of the Russian side's hesitant attitude, trying hard to oust Russia from the rather voluminous Indian weapons market.
Besides, one should keep in mind that the winner of the current struggle would be entitled to a rather lucrative prize. This became clear when the Indian Parliament started examining the 1998-99 budgetary estimates last week. Should that document be approved, Indian defence spending would soar by nearly 14 per cent, reaching R's 412 billion (just over $10 billion).
Talking to Russky Telegraph yesterday, Deputy General Designer Mr. Alexander Barkovsky from the Sukhoi design bureau, who supervises the "Indian fighter contract", admitted that competitors have been trying hard lately to pressure the Indian side and to persuade it to stop buying any more Su-30 warplanes. It should be noted in this connection that such aircraft are to be acquired by India within the framework of one of the most sweeping contracts in the history of Russia's defence industry.
Experts estimate that the entire contract is worth an impressive S1-15 billion. This contract was signed in November 1996, stipulating the delivery of 40 Su-30 fighter bombers to the Indian Air Force. India received eight Su-30K planes, which are a modified version of Su-30 warplanes, on July 11, 1997. Right now, those Su-30K's are being flown by pilots serving with the Poona-based 24th squadron of India's Air Force. The contract's fulfillment was subsequently delayed.
All other fighters were to have been seriously overhauled (in line with the Indian side's demands) prior to delivery. In essence, one can talk about an entirely new modification of the this warplane, e.g. the Su-30MK, which boasts a unique power plant replete with a variable-thrust vector.
Mikhail Simonov has informed Russky Telegraph that the Indian client has failed to select the Su-30MK's onboard equipment within the required time frame, delaying this decision by 18 months. At the same time, New Delhi has started voicing more insistent doubts concerning the expediency of the continued Su-30MK R&D effort. According to some sources, the Indian side subsidies part of the entire R&D programme in line with specific contractual provisions.
Consequently, the current visit by India's Deputy Defence Minister Mr. Ajit Kumar to an airfield belonging to the Gromov flight research institute in the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow and the demonstration of the first two prototype Su-30MK warplanes to him didn't constitute a routine formal aspect of his visit's schedule.
According to Mr. Barkovsky, it was very important for the Russian side to show the Indian delegation that such aircraft already exist. Apart from that, the Russians wanted to show that they are ready to fulfil all contractual commitments.
Meanwhile, Russky Telegraph's sources report that this ploy has apparently worked. Members of the Indian delegation, as well as Russian aircraft industrialists, were quite content with the results of their June 16 negotiations. At the same time, both sides kept insisting that they don't intend to revise the terms of their "fighter contract", and that they undertake no unfailingly fulfil all of its provisions.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
