India and Russia joint military projects: News

NEW DELHI: India and Russia are keen to utilise PM Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Moscow to strengthen ties beyond defence with creation of a joint innovation fund, besides prospective investments from Russia in National Infrastructure Fund as well as expanding bilateral trade basket beyond diamonds and pharmacy. Officials said a joint $3-billion fund to promote startups in the nanotechnology field, with applications from defence to aerospace and manufacturing, could be concretised during thhe PM's visit. Russia had earlier expressed its keenness to participate in Modi's 'Make in India' initiative.

The proposal to set up a joint innovation fund has been in the pipeline for over a year. RUSNAN, a state-run Russian firm which is working on commercialising nanotechnology, has put forward a proposal that India and Russia equally contribute to the fund that will select and nurture companies working in the field, officials said.


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India is also seeking Russian investments in the National Infrastructure Fund and this could gather momentum during the PM's trip, according to officials. The two countries are also exploring various other sectors to expand the trade basket. Modi and Russian president Vladimir Putin are expected to deliberate on this issue during the annual summit in Moscow, where a number of Indian businessmen are expected to be present.

he Western sanctions owing to Ukraine crisis followed by the recent downslide in Russian-Turkish relations (after a Russian fighter jet was shot down by Turkey) have compelled Russia to look towards old partners such as India as investment destinations, people familiar with the matter indicated. Russia has cancelled a number of joint projects that it was undertaking with Turkey in retaliation to downing of its fighter jet. Russia needs India as a major trade and economic partner, Deputy PM DmitDmitry Rogozin told TASS after his last week's visit to India to prepare for Modi's trip.

"In conditions of sectoral sanctions, which have been imposed on Russia, we still need a big partner that can fill the vacuum that appeared after our retaliatory measures," Rogozin said. "I am confident that this should and can be filled with Indian manufacturers." Rogozin said further, "Previously, we were focused on military-technological cooperation. It is no longer so. We need India as a major trade and economic partner in the first place in conditions when we can no longer maintain economic interaction with partners like Turkey because they have indeed been treacherous and cunning and have committed something, which is going to throw our relations far back."

ET view: More From Moscow

It is welcome that India's engagement will go beyond military matters during PM Modi's Russia trip next week. There is a need to deepen the economic facets of the strategic ties between India and Russia. The levels of bilateral trade now must get a leg-up, given the scope for trade is significant in many spheres including energy and IT, besides diamond and pharmacy. Joint funding of startups a good idea. Ditto for infrastructure investments. This will be complemented by the endeavour of BRICS to boost economic integration

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NEW DELHI: India is expected to allot a second site to Russia for a nuclear power plant in Andhra Pradesh and the announcement could be made when Narendra Modi visits Moscow for the bilateral annual summit on December 24-25.

Expansion of the civil nuclear partnership was discussed during Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin's visit to India on Tuesday. Rogozin, who met Modi and the NSA, also focused on expanding counter-terror cooperation. This includes sharing information and perspectives on rise of IS and Russian military action in Syria, officials informed.

"The two sides discussed further development of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant as well as the construction of new Russia-designed NPPs at other sites in India. We are moving in the right direction," Rogozin told Russian news agency Tass after his meetings in Delhi. A person familiar with Indo-Russian nuclear cooperation informed, "Discussions between Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Government of Andhra Pradesh for location of the second Russian technology based Light Water Reactor (LWR) Nuclear Power Plant are at an advanced stage." Meanwhile, construction work on the third and fourth units of Russian assisted Kudankulam nuclear power plant is expected to start in 2016. These are planned to be commissioned in the years 2020-2021.

Russia has also proposed a plan to involve India in building Russian designed nuclear power plants in third countries, the cooperation is to be extended also to the area of joint extraction of natural uranium and the production of nuclear fuel and atomic waste elimination.






Negotiations of this nature have taken place and this could lead to joint construction of power stations and other aspects of cooperation, including the training of personnel in other Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, officials indicated. The only nuclear power plant in Bangladesh so far is being built by Russia. And India has nuclear cooperation with all these three countries.

Explaining Indo-Russian discussions on expanding counterterror cooperation, Rogozin told TASS, "...The PM visit will have a deep meaning. It is extremely important for discussing joint actions and the creation of a broad counter-terrorism coalition and also for exerting joint efforts in conditions when the two countries have not only found themselves on the one side of the barricades but are in the vanguard of this struggle (against terrorism).

According to Rogozin, the appearance of the Islamic State (IS) metastases in the territory of Afghanistan has aggravated the situation even further. "The Taliban used to be perceived as an exclusively domestic phenomenon for Afghanistan. ISIS (or IS) is something absolutely the opposite.

They are as radical or even more radical (than the Taliban), and they also have global ambitions... India fully supports Russia's efforts to fight terrorism...It is not surprising that everything we discussed in New Delhi today largely concerned struggle against terrorism and radical forms of Islam," Rogozin said, adding the Indian side fully supported Russia's (antiterror) efforts, including those directed at fighting the most radical manifestations of religious terrorism - the Islamic State (IS).

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18 December 2015 RIA NOVOSTI

The Nevsky Design Bureau, which specializes in designing aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, naval aeronautical equipment, and naval-aviation simulator equipment, is ready to build a second Indian aircraft carrier. Located in St. Petersburg, the Bureau has been actively involved in designing India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, the ‘Vikrant’.

The Neva Design Bureau is ready with plans to construct a second aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy. Neva’s plans include either the design of the ship as a whole, or several of its individual components. Russia has received an offer to participate in the tendering process for such a ship, Sergei Vlasov, general director of the Neva Design Bureau, told RIA Novosti.

The Design Bureau was actively involved in the building of the first national (built in India), Indian aircraft carrier, the ‘Vikrant’, which was launched on June 11, 2015. The Indian media earlier reported that the second national aircraft carrier, the ‘Vishal’, is likely to be a nuclear- powered vessel with a displacement of around 65,000 tons, and will be able to carry 50 aircraft.

Rosoboronexport said earlier this year that Russia would agree to participate in building a new aircraft carrier, if such an application does come from India.

“The Indian side is choosing partners to participate in the design of their new aircraft carrier. The Russian side has received a request to participate in the corresponding tender. Our company can offer everything; the entire ship as a whole and/or its component parts. We are very interested in co-operation with India,” said Vlasov.

He added that the Neva Design Bureau continues to work with India on the Vikrant. The company’s specialists are working to develop the aviation-technical equipment for the ship; they have created ​​the technical design of this vessel. Other work on the aircraft carrier is being done by other countries, and India itself.

According to reports, the Vikrant should be placed into service by the Indian Navy in 2018. The displacement of the Vikrant will be about 40,000 tons, and it will be armed with anti-aircraft missile systems, and high-velocity artillery. The ship will carry carrier-based Russian-made MiG-29K/KUB fighter jets and helicopters. They also plan to use Indian ‘Tejas’ fighter jets (developed and built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the jets are also known as LCA – Light Combat Aircraft) on this ship.

In November 2013, the Indian Navy officially received the aircraft carrier ‘Vikramaditya’ (formerly the Admiral Gorshkov), which was totally refitted and modernized at Sevmash Shipyard. In January 2014, the ship safely reached the wharves of the Indian port of Karwar. In 2015, representatives of Sevmash and the Indian Navy signed a contract to provide technical assistance for maintenance of the aircraft carrier after its warranty period expires.

Located in St. Petersburg, the Nevsky Design Bureau specializes in designing aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, naval aeronautical equipment, and naval-aviation simulator equipment.

http://in.rbth.com/economics/defence/2015/12/18/neva-design-bureau-ready-to-build-new-indian-aircraft-carrier_552289

The focus on Make in India in defence is expected to be high in the three IGAs likely to be inked during the 16th India-Russia annual summit


As Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Moscow today on a two-day visit, all eyes are on the Inter Government Agreements (IGA) on defence projects being signed between India and Russia. The focus on Make in India in defence is expected to be high in the three IGAs likely to be inked during the 16th India-Russia annual summit.

Going by the list of corporate CEOs accompanying the Prime Minister for the interactive session with the Russian President Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 November, the Make in India component of defence deals could be directed towards the private sector. Indian private defence and aerospace sector in the 18-member CEOs delegation will be represented by Anil Ambani (Reliance Defence), Baba Kalyani (Bharat Forge) and Sukaran Singh (Tata Advanced System Limited).

The 34-member delegation of Russian CEOs is also dominated by top executives from defence, aerospace and energy sectors. It includes Yevtushenkov Vladimir Ptrovich, Chairman, AFK Sistema, Gurko Alexander Oelgovich, President, NP GLONASS, Sechin Igor Ivanovich, President, Rosneft and Chemezov Sergey Viktorovich, General Director, Rostech SC.

The three defence IGAs which will be signed between the two sides include a deal for 200 Kamov-226T helicopters, four Talwar class stealth frigates and five Russian S-400 air defence systems. Worth around $600 million, the deal for Kamov-226T helicopters was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar in May. Kamov-226T is a multipurpose helicopter with coaxial rotors and two Arrius 2G1 French Turbomeca engines which is operated by a crew of two and can house nine passengers.

As per the IGA, 60 helicopters will be supplied by Russia in fly-away condition while 140 of them will be produced in India under the Make in India scheme. Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence and public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited are the leading contenders for the Make in India component of the deal.

The BJP government has been keen to promote the private sector in defence and is already working on the concept of strategic partners for private Indian defence manufacturers. It is likely to be unveiled in the revised defence procurement procedure which is scheduled to be announced this month.

Buoyed by this impetus, industry sources say that the Anil Ambani group has been aggressively working towards getting this deal, which would be the biggest helicopter manufacturing project undertaken in India. Ambani has already announced an investment of Rs 6,500 crore to build a greenfield aerospace equipment manufacturing centre at the multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) SEZ.


The focus of Tata Advanced System Limited during this visit will be to secure the Maintenance and Repair Operations (MRO) deal for the Sukhoi-S30MKI fighter aircraft supplied by Russia to the Indian Air Force. Developed by Russia’s Sukhoi and built under licence by HAL, IAF will have 272 Sukhoi fighters in service. With the IAF spending more than Rs 3,000 crore on Sukhois every year, a maintenance, repair and spare part production contract will be very attractive for the Tata group.

The deal for four Talwar class stealth frigates is also likely to be signed during this visit. These vessels are improved variants of six Talwar class frigates already in service with the Indian Navy. While one frigate could be partly built in Russia, the other three are likely to be fully built here under Make in India. With most public shipyards in India already busy with existing orders, the Anil Ambani owned Pipavav Shipyard is seen as a leading contender for making the frigates in Make in India.

Worth around $6 billion, the deal for S-400 ‘Triumf’ systems was cleared by the DAC last week. India will be the second buyer of the missile system after China which will provide India with the capabilities to hit multiple-range air targets, including fighter jets, bombers, drones, ballistic and cruise missiles up to a range of 400 kilometres. Here, the Make in India component in this deal is rather limited.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/pms-moscow-visit-private-sector-eyes-make-in-india-deals-in-defence/#sthash.mVA3H3IV.dpuf

Russia offers India new Pak-Fa deal

Russia has made a new offer on the delivery of Sukhoi T-50 (PAK FA) fighter jets to India under the joint fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) initiative.
Under the new offer, India will have to pay $3.7 billion, instead of $6 billion, for the technological know-how and three prototypes of PAK FA fighters. The proposal awaits a decision from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin for the annual India-Russia summit this week.

India and Russia had signed an inter-governmental agreement to co-develop and co-produce the FGFA in 2007, which was followed by the $295 million preliminary design contract in December 2010. Modelled on the successful Brahmos missile project, the project involves Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The overall FGFA project cost for making 127 single-seat fighters in India has been estimated to be around $30 billion.

The final design contract, under which both sides were to contribute an initial $6 billion each for prototype development and production, has not been signed between India and Russia so far. Meanwhile, Russia has gone ahead with the development of PAK FA and claims that it will enter service with the Russian Air Force in 2016, and enter serial production in 2017.

“Now that they already have the fighter, the Russians have made a revised offer to us. For $3.7 billion, they will give us all the technological know-how of making the fighter. We will also get three prototypes from them in that amount,” a senior defence ministry official said.
But the Indian Air Force (IAF) remains opposed to the idea. A senior IAF official said, “We are not in favour of the FGFA. The PAK FA fighter is too expensive at even this rate, and we are not sure of its capabilities.”

Sources said the Russian offer is driven by Moscow’s cash crunch and lack of firm orders with its defence industry.



Why Russians won't give nuclear attack submarine to Modi

The requirement of its Navy takes priority.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to Russia with a wish-list of defence equipment to buy. The Russians are pretty much willing to sell whatever we want, but one item wont be coming our way for a bit.

It is the Yasen-class submarine, the newest Russian nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine. Based on the Akula-class submarine (like INS Chakra) and the Alfa-class submarines, it is projected to replace Russia's Soviet-era attack submarines like the Akula and Oscar-class. The Russians began building these submarines only in 2011 and can build only one a year at the best.

The Russian Navy's requirement takes priority. They have three more under construction, and one more - Kazan - is expected to join the fleet soon. The Russian Navy has only one of this class of submarine in operation - the Severodvinsk - which has impressed the US Navy as a particularly dangerous foe as it is very quiet and fast.

It seems the Russians are also reluctant to co-manufacture this in India under "Make in India".India could turn to France, but the new class of Barracuda nuclear attack submarines too are in an advanced stage of development, like the Russian Yasen class. So what they have available is the 1980s' design Rubis class, perhaps inferior to the Russian Akula.

The USA has time and again expressed unwillingness to cooperate in manufacturing or transferring its nuclear powered submarines, as they will not be able to get Congressional approval.

So, that leaves us with only the Russian Akula class, of which we already have one. The Russians have one more available for us immediately. I think we can expect some traction on this for now. And then hope for the best. And to the tender mercies of Anil Ambani who now owns the Pipapav Shipyard.

NEW DELHI: Consolidating its position as the leading Indian defence player in the complex field of underwater warfare, engineering giant Larsen and ToubroBSE -2.19 % is set to get a major share in a Rs 5,000-crore deal to upgrade and refit Russian-origin Kilo class submarines.

The company, which is already a leading partner for the nuclear submarine project of the Indian Navy, has been chosen as the Indian partner for the Kilo class refit — a program to increase the life of the submarine by 10 years involving complex engineering.

Sources have told ET that the Russian side has written to the Indian government, informing that an earlier partnership plan with the Anil Ambani promoted Pipavav now stands cancelled as the shipyard would not have been able to meet timelines set by the Navy for the upgrade plan. L&T, which refused to comment on the development when contacted, is now expected to upgrade at least three submarines in India, in what could make the yard a leading contender for similar orders from neighbouring nations that operate Kilo class submarines as well. Sources said that the key factor in choosing L&T was an evaluation of at least three yards that was conducted by Russian shipbuilders.

"A survey of the equipment profile and finances was conducted at the Cochin Shipyard, Pipavav and the L&T yard at Kattupalli. Only the L&T facility was found technically capable of carrying out the work in the given timeframe," an official involved in the process told ET.

While the first of the four Kilo class subs will go to the Russian Zvezdochka shipyard for inspection and refit, the remaining three are likely to be modernised at the Kattupalli yard. The first of the submarines to be modernised at private yard — a first for India — will go in by 2017, officials said. An order for 2-3 more submarines could also be commissioned, depending on ongoing acquisition plans of the Navy.

The Indian Navy is looking to squeeze some more life out of its two decade-old Kilo class submarines, with a contract being signed in October with Russia to extend the service life of the boats to 35 years. The extensive refit will not only extend the life of the subs but will also upgrade their combat potential. The first submarine to be sent is the INS Sindhukesari that will be fitted with Klub land attack cruise missile. The Sindhukesari, which got its first refit in 1999-2001, will also be fitted with several Indian systems.

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Is Another Indo-Russian Defense Deal About to Falter?

[India and Russia recently failed to agree on moving forward on a joint air transport project.]

A joint Indo-Russian project to develop a new medium-airlift military transport aircraft, the UAC/HAL II-214 Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA), is “almost shelved,” according to an Indian Defense Ministry source interviewed by Defense News.

The recent December 23 meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to break the “stalemate” over the MTA program, a joint venture for which both countries have co-founded a new company, the Multi Role Transport Aircraft Ltd., established by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), both of which invested $300 million in the project.
The new transport plane was expected to enter service by 2019. India was planning to purchase 45 and Russia around 100 aircraft. However, as of now, even the detailed design phase has not been worked out between UAC and HAL, despite a signed May 2012 general contract for the development of the aircraft.

“The transport aircraft [project] may be shelved because of three reasons. One is engine and secondly there are some internal conflicts in Russia between various stakeholders which is not allowing the desired progress. Thirdly, life of the AN-32 has been extended and the aircraft (upgraded),” according to a senior Indian Air Force official speaking to Defense News on the condition of anonymity.

“The MTA program is as good as dead, and a global tendering will take place,” he succinctly added. The Indian Air Force is not happy with the selection of the PD-14M turbofan engines and other technical decisions taken by Russian engineers.(Most importantly, India wants the MTA to operate in higher altitudes than the current technical configuration would allow.) The Russian side also wants to increase the program development budget, something that India vehemently opposes.

The senior Indian Air Force official also noted that operational lifespan of the Indian Air Force’s fleet of Antonov AN-32 transport aircraft has been extended from 25 to 40 years.

In 2009, the Indian Air Force signed a contract with Ukrspetsexport Corporation, Ukraine’s state-owned arms trading company, to upgrade its 104 AN-32 transport aircraft and extend their service life. The $400 million upgrades included improved avionics, modernization of the cockpit, and a payload capacity increase from 6.7 to 7.5 ton

Forty aircraft were upgraded in Ukraine, according to IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly, whereas 64 planes were to be domestically overhauled at the Indian Air Force’s base repair depot at Kanpur through 2017.

However, as I reported in March 2015, work in Kanpur had to be discontinued due to missing spare parts and the premature departure of Ukrainian engineers. It remains unclear whether work on the aircraft was continued in the following months.

Additionally, India is seeking to replace its aging fleet of 56 Avro transport planes. So far no contract has been awarded to defense firms bidding for the estimated $3.5 billion tender.

The Indian Air Force operates a host of different transport planes including five C-130 J Super Hercules, 17 Iljushin II-76s, a number of Dornier Do 228s, and more than a dozen Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs.

During the annual India-Russia summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also failed to resolve an ongoing disagreement between the two countries over the future of a joint fifth generation fighter program.

India hasnt really been a good partner for Russia and if India turns to Ukraine over this, then so be it.  India blamed Russia for Indias incompetence in maintenance of aircraft for years, then to find out people stealing from the company. As well, India has this wierd opinion that they deserve a fifth gen jet without real investments, and to expect 50/50 build when Russia has put in far more as it would be based off of Pak Fa.  And as well, their disagreements to use PD-14M are unfounded, especially since India doesnt actually make such engines themselves and their input would be strange.  But then again, the "anonimous military official" is a common ghost used by media to spread bullshit, and very common in India.

sepheronx wrote:India hasnt really been a good partner for Russia and if India turns to Ukraine over this, then so be it.  India blamed Russia for Indias incompetence in maintenance of aircraft for years, then to find out people stealing from the company. As well, India has this wierd opinion that they deserve a fifth gen jet without real investments, and to expect 50/50 build when Russia has put in far more as it would be based off of Pak Fa.  And as well, their disagreements to use PD-14M are unfounded, especially since India doesnt actually make such engines themselves and their input would be strange.  But then again, the "anonimous military official" is a common ghost used by media to spread bullshit, and very common in India.

India seems to be inefficient once again. India-Russia deals : A torturous saga

Sounds to me like the best solution is to flanker it... ie russia can increase its budget for development and develop the aircraft and put it into production and then india can add its requirements... different engines etc and apply those changes and call it Tu-214MKI or something and produce it locally.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow last month yielded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on supplying the Kamov-226T light helicopter to India's military, both sides are struggling to meet the challenging 'Make in India' requirement of building 50 per cent of the helicopter in India.

Neither side is willing to speak on the record, but Russian sources tell Business Standard that Moscow has accepted responsibility only for indigenising Russian components, which would fall short of the indigenisation level required.

These sources say the IGA requires New Delhi to negotiate separately with third country vendors for indigenising their components and systems, which make up about two-third of the Kamov-226T. Russian Helicopters, which has developed the Kamov-226T, has sourced its twin engines - which constitute one-third of the chopper's cost - from French company, Turbomeca. Other key systems and avionics have been sourced from the global market.

HAL sources confirm: "We will have to work with third-country suppliers and co-co-opt them into the indigenization effort to meet the "Make in India" goals.

Adding to the difficulty, the IGA permits Russian Helicopters to deliver the first 60 helicopters in flyaway condition.

These would be assembled entirely in Russia, with little scope for indigenisation. That would also be the case with the next 40 or so helicopters, shipped as kits from Russia to be assembled in India.

That leaves just 100 helicopters for meeting the 50 per cent 'Make in India' goals over the entire fleet of 200.

HAL, along with other Indian manufacturers, is negotiating with third-party suppliers outside Russia to build Kamov-226T components and systems in India. Bharat Forge is understood to be in talks with Turbomeca to part-build the Kamov-226T's engines in India.

Russian sources say the Kamov-226T indigenisation has been complicated by an unusually detailed IGA. Traditionally, IGAs consist only of broad statements of intent.

This IGA, unprecedentedly, mandates an Indo-Russian joint venture for building the helicopter, with a 50.5 per cent stake for HAL, and a 49.5 per cent stake for Russian Helicopters. HAL is permitted to co-opt an Indian vendor with part of its stake.

According to Russian sources closely involved in negotiating this IGA, "It forms a new model of cooperation between India and Russia, developed specifically for the Kamov-226T.

The IGA specifies a nine-year period for delivering 200 Kamov-226T helicopters, which begins from the signature of the contract. That amounts to an unambitious 22 helicopters a year.

The defence ministry believes that India's military, and civilian users like ONGC, Pawan Hans and corporates, will require about 600 new light helicopters when the venerable Chetak/Cheetah fleet is phased out. But the Kamov-226T will have to compete for this market with HAL's new Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), which is ready to make its first flight.

Business Standard found, during a recent visit to HAL, that the LUH is on track to make its first flight by February. According to HAL projections, the LUH would complete flight certification by mid-2017 and enter production by the year-end.

The defence ministry has assured HAL it will buy about 200 LUH. With the IGA assuring Russian Helicopters that India would buy 200 choppers, the bulk of the order for the remaining 200 would fall to whichever manufacturer delivers 200 helicopters first.

With HAL's helicopter close to its first flight, planning has begun for production. On January 3, the prime minster laid the foundation stone for HAL's new facility in Tumkur, where the LUH would be built. Modi declared that the first helicopter built there would take flight by 2018.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/make-in-india-challenge-for-kamov-helicopter-116011800029_1.html

Pinto wrote:After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow last month yielded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on supplying the Kamov-226T light helicopter to India's military, both sides are struggling to meet the challenging 'Make in India' requirement of building 50 per cent of the helicopter in India.

Neither side is willing to speak on the record, but Russian sources tell Business Standard that Moscow has accepted responsibility only for indigenising Russian components, which would fall short of the indigenisation level required.

India's policy of wanting to "buy their way into aerospace" (on the cheap, mainly when it comes to non-US products) is appalling and they know it does not work (see Tejas, INSAS, or whatever). If they wanted so much their own design and manufacture, they had 3-4 decades of copying, reverse-engineering the Mi-8 etc. Much like the Iranians attempted on doing on Cobras and Jet Rangers (the effectiveness is debatable).

Indians did not, so offering them 10, 20 or 30% co-production and then some sort of license should keep them happy. But they are not... at least so they leak on the press. I suspect these leaks are also politicians' efforts to get (western?) cash under the table and select their product.

Or I really don't know wtf is wrong with them as they never asked for the same tech transfer on US weapons, in fact these are very restricted on them, as non-allied end-users. MMRCA, C-130J, Globemaster III transports (having Il-76 tankers) or Poseidon's.. while operating a WP-oriented military altogether. Last year they selected Apaches and Chinooks too

151 Mi-17V-5s delivered to Indian Air Force; $1.1-billion contract for 48 more likely

The predominantly Soviet and Russian weaponry that India’s military fired, flew and sailed since the late 1970s has gradually made way for equipment from the United States, France, the UK and, now, even Israel. Yet, in the field of helicopters, Russia reigns supreme.

On Wednesday, Moscow announced delivery of its final batch of three Mi-17V-5 medium lift helicopters, completing delivery of a $3-billion contract for 151 Mi-17V-5 helicopters.

With these delivered, the Russian Helicopters plant in Kazan is gearing up for another impending $1.1-billion contract for supplying 48 more Mi-17V-5 helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Meanwhile, in December 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin agreed that Russian Helicopters would build and supply at least 200 Kamov-226T light helicopters for India. That contract is currently being negotiated.

Russia dominates the global helicopter market with rotorcraft renowned for their ruggedness and low cost. According to Russian Helicopters, 8,500 of its choppers are in service worldwide, in over 100 countries. As on 2014, Russian Helicopters built 24 per cent of the world’s military helicopters; 35 per cent of all combat helicopters; and 50 per cent of the medium-heavy transport helicopters.

Last year, for the first time, India signed contracts worth $3-billion for American helicopters — including 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook multi-mission heavy lift helicopters. These would be delivered over the next three years.

Even so, in terms of sheer numbers, Russian Mi-series helicopters have always been the backbone of the IAF chopper fleet. Starting from the 1960s, the IAF bought 110 Mi-4 helicopters, then 128 Mi-8, and finally 160 Mi-17s, totalling up to almost 400 helicopters. In addition, the IAF will now operate almost 200 Mi-17V-5s.

India also bought one squadron of the heavy-lift Mi-26 helicopter, which will soon be replaced by the Chinook CH-47F. The IAF also operated two squadrons of Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, which the Apache AH-64E will replace.

Besides the IAF, the Indian Navy has also been a big user of Russian helicopters. A range of naval warships, including the new aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, embarks the Kamov-28 and Kamov-31 helicopters, which carry out anti-submarine operations and airborne early warning respectively.

Encouragingly, the biggest competitor to Russian Helicopters for Indian military orders is Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The Indian aerospace giant has built four successful light helicopters — the Dhruv Advanced Light helicopter; the Rudra, a Dhruv fitted with weaponry; the light combat helicopter; and the coming light utility helicopter. Once these are fully inducted, India’s military will fly more than 600 indigenous choppers.

The Mi-17V-5, is a more powerful version of the Mi-17 that entered service in the 1980s, with better avionics and night flying ability. The new helicopter is being used to transport troops; supply Indian army outposts on the remote Himalayan border that are unconnected by road, and even transport VIPs.

In 2008, India had signed a contract for 80 Mi-17V-5s; followed by three additional contracts in 2012-13 for 71 more helicopters.

Russian helicopters fly in the Mi-17V-5 in ready-to-assemble kits, and Indian technicians put them together at the IAF depot in Chandigarh.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/russian-choppers-a-favourite-with-indian-armed-forces-116020300833_1.html

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow, for the annual India-Russia summit in late December, has raised levels of trust between the leadership of the two countries and fast-forwarded a variety of deals, particularly those related to defence, sources told RIR.


With a slew of defence contracts, with countries like Russia and France in particular, taking exceptionally long to get finalised, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called senior officials in the Defence ministry in December last year to ask why projects were getting so delayed. The officials said they were handicapped because they were unsure and inexperienced in their dealings with foreigners, and required a lot of monitoring.

Once Modi returned from his official visit to Moscow between December 23 and 25 and after his meetings and detailed discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar took over a key post in the Defence Ministry for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), to ensure smooth coordination and to ensure swift follow through for defence agreements.

A diplomat from the MEA has assumed charge as Joint Secretary (Planning and International Cooperation) in the Ministry to Defence (MOD) a key position to ensure smoother and faster coordination and swifter follow through of international agreements, primarily those related to defence and energy purchases and collaborations. This, sources said, was a direct outcome of the Indian Prime Minister’s complaint that defence agreements were not being followed through properly.

Another key take-away from the meeting between Modi and Putin, particularly after the one-on-one meeting they had at the private dinner for the Indian Prime Minister hosted by the Russian President at his dacha, was that the two leaders established a really good rapport with and trust in each other. According to sources, “they got on really well during the visit and developed the kind of relationship that was missing in their earlier bilateral encounters”. They had met on several occasions, but “the Russian President had always appeared pre-occupied and distracted,” a source said. “But this time, they were on the same page, and talked for hours, understanding each other’s vision.”

That is among the reasons the joint statement issued on December 24, 2015, after the summit meeting, was called ‘Shared Trust, New Horizons’, moving forward from the more general ‘Druzhba Dosti’ (friendship) issued after the 2014 Summit.

According to sources, since the visit and the MEA assuming the key position, the follow through on agreements has been progressing with greater speed and efficiency. That’s why the PAK FA talks went on simultaneously with the discussions on purchase of the ‘Rafale’ (when French President Francois Hollande visited India as Chief Guest for the Indian Republic Day celebrations on January 26). Discussions and financial details of the joint India-Russia FGFA were also sorted through and approved by the Indian Defence Acquisitions Council, even as the French President was concluding his visit.

Russia has made a new offer on the delivery of Sukhoi T-50 (PAK FA) fighter jets to India under the joint fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) initiative. Under the new offer, India will have to pay $3.7 billion, instead of $6 billion, for the technological know-how and three prototypes of PAK FA fighters, television and print media channels reported.

India and Russia signed an inter-governmental agreement to co-develop and co-produce the FGFA in 2007. This was followed by a $295 million preliminary design contract in December 2010. The project is modelled on the successful ‘Brahmos’ missile project, and involves Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Also, last week, the Indian Union Cabinet of ministers gave assent to an agreement signed between India and Russia for joint implementation of competitive research projects in areas of basic and exploratory sciences. The agreement, which was signed in May 2015, is valid for six years and could be extended through mutual consent between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Russian Science Federation (RSF). It provides for competitive research grants to Indians and Russians for joint projects in areas like mathematics, computer and systems science, physics and space science, chemistry and material science, biology and life science, basic research for medicine, agricultural science, earth science and engineering science.

"Decision to identify research projects for funding would be taken jointly by DST and RSF. The results of this cooperation will lead to generation of new knowledge, joint scientific publications, manpower training and IP generation through collaboration," an official statement said after the Indian Cabinet meeting.

http://in.rbth.com/economics/cooperation/2016/02/08/modis-moscow-visit-moves-russia-ties-forward_565809

NEW DELHI: After a hiatus of nearly a year, India and Russia have revived talks on the much-delayed fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA). Alsom cost negotiations for the joint production of 200 Kamov 226T helicopters have begun.

A high level Russian delegation is in town to hold negotiations on both the projects, high-level defence sources said. "We have got the clearance to restart the talks. Accordingly, a Russian team is here and cost negotiations began yesterday," the sources said.

India has already pumped in about $290 million into the project but it got delayed because the IAF had some issues. Russia has made a new offer on the delivery of Sukhoi T-50 (PAK-FA) fighter jets to India under the joint FGFA initiative.

READ ALSO: Can't keep waiting for stealth fighter, India tells Russia

Under the new offer, India will have to pay $3.7 billion, instead of $6 billion, for the technological know-how and three prototypes of PAK-FA fighters. In 2010, India had agreed to pay $295 million towards the preliminary design of the fighter.

The code name of the project in India is perspective multirole fighter (PMF).

The Russian delegation will also hold talks with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for 200 Kamov 226T light helicopters to replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak, in a deal estimated to be worth $1 billion under the "Make in India" initiative.

The defence ministry had in August last year scrapped a scam-tainted tender worth over Rs 6,000 crore to procure 197 light utility helicopters for Army and Air Force to replace the fleet of Cheetah and Chetak choppers, which are used to move troops and equipment to high-altitude locations like Siachen.

Following Russia's offer to manufacture Kamov in India, the defence acquisition council, chaired by defence minister Manohar Parrikar, accepted it.


Though the initial order is only for 200 helicopters, it is likely to be increased later on.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-Russia-revive-5th-generation-fighter-aircraft-talks-Kamov-cost-negotiations-begin/articleshow/50932828.cms

An Indo-Russian joint venture to produce a new series of light military choppers in India is likely to rope in at least one private sector partner for the $1-billion project, with Pune based Bharat Forge emerging as a likely contender to manufacture engines.

With talks on the joint production of over 200 Kamov Ka 226 chopper progressing after an agreement was inked during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow in December, officials have said that there is scope for one or two private sector companies to contribute.

A senior team from Russian Helicopters is currently in New Delhi to sort out technical and financial aspects of the deal which will provide the army much-needed light choppers for operations in high altitude areas like the Siachen glacier where antiquated aircraft like the Cheetah helicopters are still operating.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indo-russian-kamov-chopper-jv-may-rope-in-private-players-bharat-forge-likely-contender-to-make-engines/articleshow/50938813.cms

As India and Russia firm up their alliance to produce Kamov military helicopters, it has been decided that the public sector giant, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will not be the only Indian partner in the project.
The Ministry of Defence is looking to have private sector Indian investors to share a part of the contract that India has to execute under a joint venture with Russia. The Indian side will hold 50.50 per cent stake in the joint venture of which the private sector companies will be strategic partners with HAL. The private partners could be doing various tasks of making the copter India at HAL’s Bangalore facility. The HAL will remain the lead integrator of the copter, sources said.
Kamov-HAL will produce 200 of the Kamov 226-T copters at a cost of nearly Rs 6,500 crore or Rs 32 crore per copter in India. It will be an inter-governmental deal like the ones earlier for the Russian Sukhoi-30-MKI fighter jets in India or the T-90 tanks. The HAL is owned by the Ministry of Defence and has previous experience at making copters.

The Indian forces need some 800 light utility helicopters over the next decade, a demand which cannot be fulfilled by the HAL alone. The Indo-Russia joint venture aims to have an annual production capacity of 40-60 helicopters.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had last year announced a two-pronged plan to ramp up copter production in India. The first part was to ramp up capacity at HAL and, the second, to invite foreign participation to collaborate with Indian companies.

The first part of expansion of HAL kicked off on January 3 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the stone for HAL’s new helicopter manufacturing facility at Tumkuru, 100 km from Bengaluru.

Under the India-Russia agreement, the engine of the Kamov will involve a separate partnership. The Kamov uses French engine-maker Turbomeca’s power plant. The HAL already has a partnership with the same French company to produce engines for its indigenously developed copter, the advanced light helicopter, called Dhruv. The Kamov 226-T is also fitted with Turbomeca engines, but a different variant.

HAL in the past has licensed-produced the French origin Cheetah/Chetak light utility helicopter. The twin-engine Kamov 226-T will replace the single-engine Cheetah/Chetak.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/private-firms-to-help-make-kamov-copters/197305.html