India, Russia Move Forward to Iron Out Defence Supplies

The two deals were inked by Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with Russian companies United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation, for general terms and conditions governing long term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance over five years for the 272-jet Su-30 MKI fleet. The deals were worth $315 million, finds out GEOPOLIICS Bureau.

A two-year effort from the Narendra Modi government to streamline India's defence relations with Russia has paid off, with the latter agreeing to meet India's spares supply needs without much hassle. Moscow has also agreed to New Delhi's request to ensure soon that Indian companies are able to take on the burden of manufacturing the parts required by Russian military equipment in the Indian armed forces fleet.

The effort had begun in 2015 when a team of Indian industry was taken to Russia by the Modi's government to help them meet up and explore tie-up with the Russian original equipment manufacturers and their Russian suppliers. The effort then was to ensure the Indian companies establish links with Russian manufacturers of spares and parts for Russian equipment that are in the Indian military inventory.

From then to now, India has managed to convince Russia to ink, as a first step, two key agreements there by ensuring the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet of combat planes in the Indian Air Force inventory do not go without spares and parts required to improve their operational availability. In this regard, the Indian Ministry of Defence organised a two-day conference of Russian and Indian companies interested in doing business together to meet the Indian military spares needs on March 17 and 18 in New Delhi. This was the first such effort.

The two deals were inked by Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with Russian companies United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation, for general terms and conditions governing long term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance over five years for the 272-jet Su-30 MKI fleet. The deals were worth $315 million.