Russia and India have signed an inter-governmental agreement on a program for military-technical cooperation for 2021-2030, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The document was inked in the presence of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on 6 December.
The chief of Russia’s federal service for military technical cooperation, Dmitry Shugayev and the Indian Defense Ministry’s Additional Secretary and Director General for Acquisition Kantha Rao put their signatures to the document.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the agreement provided for cooperation by arms and services and also the supplies and development of armaments and other military hardware.
Reorienting Joint Research & Development
Russia and India are reorienting to joint research and development, and joint production of advanced defense technologies and systems, Putin and Modi said in a joint statement after their talks in New Delhi on 6 December.
“Military and military-technical cooperation has traditionally been the pillar of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. 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 document says.
Russia and India noted the successful completion of the military technical cooperation program for 2011-2020 and hailed an agreement of such program for 2021-2031.
“The Sides reiterated their commitment to upgrade the defence cooperation, including facilitating joint development and production of military equipment, components and spare parts, enhancing the after-sales service system, progress towards mutual recognition of quality control and regular joint exercises of the Armed Forces of the two countries,” it reads. “The two leaders agreed that for peace, stability and mutual economic development, there is a need for the two countries to work closely together in the advanced and emerging fields of defence technology and for the Armed Forces of the two countries to work together in niche domains of military capabilities.”
According to the document, the sides are satisfied with the regular contacts between the military and joint drills, “which reached unprecedented heights this year, with three exercises being held within a span of 60 days besides simultaneous participation of large Indian contingents in the International Army Games.”
“The Russian side deeply appreciated participation of INS Tabar in the 325th Russian Navy Day celebrations. The Sides agreed to continue and expand regular defence dialogue, mutual training and exercises, subject matter expert exchanges and other activities under the aegis of India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation,” the statement says.
Apart from that, the Russia side highly appreciated Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s and an Indian Tri-Service contingent’s participation in the Victory Parade at Moscow’s Red Square in June 2020.
Production of Spare Parts
Putin and Modi agreed to expand the joint production in India of spare parts for maintenance of Russian origin arms and defense equipment.
“Both sides agreed to take forward ongoing engagements to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for maintenance of Russian origin Arms and defense equipment under Make-in-India program through transfer of technology and setting up of joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian Armed Forces as well as subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries,” the document said.
They also recognized the requirement of an institutional arrangement for reciprocal provision of logistic support and services for the Armed Forces.
