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Russia faces tough competition at India’s DefExpo 2010
Published: 16 February, 2010, 11:02
Edited: 21 March, 2010, 22:56
A Russian arms dealer displays an 7.62 mm OTS 03 sniper rifle during the DefExpo 2010 (AFP Photo / Raveendran)
(10.4Mb) embed videoTAGS: Arms, Military, Asia, Politics
The world’s top arms producers have descended on New Delhi with their eyes on lucrative contracts up for grabs at India’s main arms fair.
India has been spending big on weaponry imports in recent years and with more than 600 companies present, India's number one supplier, Russia, is facing tough international competition. Russia has had arms contracts with India worth around $1.5 billion each year, but ties between the countries’ arms industries do not stop there as Moscow strives to stay on top.
Ever since Nikita Khrushchev advised India to “shout across the Himalayas if you ever need us,” military cooperation between India and Russia has rarely lost momentum. In the 21st century, this relationship has manifested in the joint development of new weaponry, with both countries expected to sign a contract within a month to manufacture a fifth-generation jet fighter.
An economic slowdown and recession may have hit the globe, but there are no signs of it visible at DefExpo 2010. Held every two years in New Delhi, all the top global weapons manufacturers attend the event, because the $11 billion that India spends every year on foreign military supplies is up for grabs.
The Minister of State for Defense of India believes that the atmosphere in India is now more and more conducive to attracting foreign investment in defense research and development. “We’re looking for partnerships and co-development arrangements and formation of joint venture in critical technical areas,” said Dr. Pallam Raju, and concluded that the “defense expo, which is a one-stop shop, is an ideal platform for doing business in defense.”
 Brahmos cruise missiles (AFP Photo / Emmanuel Dunand) |
”India is the number one partner for the Russian defense industry, since it is not only the volume that is exported, it is also the quality of the equipment and scientific technical potential that we put in India’s industrial military complex within this cooperation,” shared Victor Komardin, Deputy Director General of Russia’s Rosoboronexport arms corporation.
One of the biggest success stories is the Brahmos, the only supersonic cruise missile in the world. Both countries are equal partners in this project, contributing their own areas of expertise.
”We are very strong in guidance technology and software,” states Dr. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO of Brahmos Aerospace, “whereas Russia is very strong in propulsion and cruise missile technology. So having technology available in both, and respecting each other in trust, we formed a joint venture.”
The world is at India’s doorstep, keen to sell its weaponry, but for the Indian military it seems the preferred weapons of choice are Russian, and the wide range of equipment and armaments that they are collaborating on underlines the special relationship that India and Russia share.
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This research ''Supersonic Missile-BRAHMOS "is positive point of Indian defense department,but its thought depended on other country.Russia is a truthfull friend of India so spread a new masseage in all world that Indian- scientests have compatitive mind in all field.At-lest this product is favour of India.Jai-Hind!!!
Hahahaha... Russia is uncompetitive? When buying US weapons you pay top dollar but you buy influence in the US. As long as your enemy is not more important to the US you can expect US support which is worth its weight in gold most of the time. Of course it didn't pay off for Argentina in 1982 against the British for the reason above. US weapons for India will be useful against China but of no use against the real threat of Pakistan. Who cares how cheap it is to operate if you are not allowed to use it and if you do all your wonder spares and support are in control of the US? Ask Hugo Chavez how cool his F-16s are ATM. Russia is a rather better ally than most because they are prepared to work with India as equals rather than a teacher student relationship where the teacher sells and the Student simply buys what is offered. The relationship benefits both Russia and India. Personally I think all this talk about the US taking market share from Russia with India is BS. It seems to me that the US is taking market share from France and Europe.
I am very sorry towards the russians beacuse India is not going to purchase MIG-35 for it's MMRCA contract. India has selected two jets (RAFAEL & EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON).And one of them will be selected. It has come to my knowledge that indian pilots & specialists of fighter jets are not impressed thw engine of MIG-35
BUT i know that russian jets are unbeatable when compared to any aircraft & especially i like the manuveribilty of russian jets. we are still enjoying su-30 mki, mig-29, and we are eager to see mig-29k on GORSHKOV(VIKRAMDITYA)
I hope that this deal will not affect our friendship.
we were good friends, we are better friends, we will be best friends forever..... GREETINGS FROM INDIA ( love you Russia)