Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Tuesday that Russia has agreed to expedite the delivery of spare parts of Russian-origin military platforms by setting up joint ventures in India and through other means. The development comes after the Indian government publicly acknowledged a delay in Russian supplies due to the conflict in Ukraine, which has raised concerns about the smooth operation of the country’s armed forces. Kwatra mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed this issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their discussions on bilateral defence ties at the 22nd India-Russia annual summit in Moscow.
“Both sides had a general sense of agreement that this would be expedited, including through setting up joint venture partnerships in India to look at some of these spare parts, particularly the more critical spare parts, so that we are able to address this challenge in a more meaningful and sustainable way,” Kwatra said.
Meanwhile, a joint statement released on Tuesday by the two countries said their defence partnership was reorienting to joint research and development, co-development, and joint production of advanced defence technology and systems to meet India’s quest for self-sufficiency. They confirmed their commitment to maintaining the momentum of joint military cooperation activities and expanding military delegation exchanges.
Strengthening 🇮🇳-🇷🇺 Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership!
PM @narendramodi held discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Kremlin today.
The leaders comprehensively reviewed the bilateral partnership covering the areas of trade, economic, agriculture,… pic.twitter.com/V14tKLUAhT
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2024
According to the statement, both sides agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of “spare parts, components, aggregates and other products” for maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment under the Make-in-India programme. This collaborative effort, done “through the transfer of technology and setting up of joint ventures, will not only meet the needs of the Indian Armed Forces but also pave the way for subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries with their approval”.
The statement mentioned in this regard that both parties have agreed to establish a new Working Group on Technological Cooperation. They will discuss this during the next meeting of IRIGC-M&MTC (Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation) in Moscow in the second half of 2024.
“Responding to India’s quest for self-sufficiency, the partnership is reorienting presently to joint research and development, co-development and joint production of advanced defence technology and systems. The Sides confirmed commitment to maintain the momentum of joint military cooperation activities and expand military delegation exchanges,” the statement said.
Delay in Supply of Spare Parts
India’s military heavily relies on Russian-made equipment, requiring a consistent supply of spare parts for maintenance. However, due to the conflict in Ukraine, deliveries of major weapon systems such as the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems have been delayed. As a result, India is exploring alternative sources for spares, including domestic production and potential procurement from countries like Poland and Georgia. Despite the challenges the Russia-Ukraine conflict poses, the Indian military remains resilient. Delays in the supply of spares and maintenance support for various aircraft, including the Mi-17 V5 choppers, the Su-30 MKI fighters, and the RD-33 engines of MiG-29 jets, have not hindered the Armed Forces’ operational readiness. Indian military leaders have reassured that despite the delays, the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces has not been compromised.
Russia to Release Indians in Its Army
During the 22nd India-Russia summit, the main focus was on economic matters, but PM Modi also raised the issue of Indian nationals serving in the Russian army with Putin. According to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, Russia has shown a “sense of promise” regarding the early discharge of approximately 30-40 Indian nationals who were “misled” into joining the Russian army and are still serving there.
Ravi Shankar
