Expanding their time-tested strategic ties, India and Russia on Monday decided to hold the first ever joint air exercise next year besides joint naval exercise in Sea of Japan. While both the countries regularly hold Army exercises, the air exercise will give pilots of both the countries an opportunity to understand each other’s operating philosophy.
The decision to hold air exercise was taken during Defence Minister AK Antony’s delegation level talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow. The two leaders met under the aegis of India-Russia Inter Governmental Commission on Military Technical Co-operation.
This body co-chaired by the Defence Ministers of two countries was set up 13 years ago to take stock of military ties, joint ventures in defence production and status of various projects as India uses more than 70 per cent of weaponry of Russian and erstwhile Soviet Union origin. The Defence Ministers of India and Russia meet every year in Moscow and New Delhi alternatively to discuss these issues.
As regards the latest round, both the Ministers reviewed progress made on joint design and development of Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA). India plans to acquire more than 300 FGFA aircraft once it gets into the production stage in the next three to four years besides 70 multi-role transport aircraft.
The two countries also reviewed the ongoing negotiations for transfer of technology for T-90 main battle tanks and SU-30 fighter jets. India will build 1,000 tanks here and procure 700 more off the shelf from Russia.
Similarly, India will buy 40 SU-30 jets from Russia in the next three to four years to complete its fleet of 270 SU-30s. At present, IAF has 180 jets and remaining 50 aircraft are in the process of manufacturing in India under transfer of technology pact.
Giving details of the meeting, Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar, who is part of the delegation, said from Moscow Antony told Russians the FGFA and MTA projects are significant because they symbolise going past the relationship of buyer-seller. He said both sides must give their best at all phases of the execution of these two projects- design, development and production. Shoigu assured that the naval aviation specialists will train Indian pilots for take-offs and landing on INS Vikramaditya and in all probability it will be held in Goa. The aircraft carrier was inducted into the Indian Navy on Saturday in Russia in the presence of Antony and Shoigu.
On the issue of after sales support, both the countries felt that they should sign long-term maintenance support agreement. This issue has hindered various acquisitions by India as the armed forces have to struggle to get hold of critical spares and top political leadership of two countries have time and again discussed it.