NEW DELHI: A critical review of India’s defence purchases from Russia is being undertaken soon, Seventy percent of India’s military hardware purchases came from the former Soviet Union.

The defence minister, Sharad Pawar, is going to Moscow for high-level talks with the Russian defence establishment. Indications are, India is keen on reviewing its existing policy of arms purchases from Russia in the changed context of Moscow according to priority to the commercial thrust in its arms marketing.

India is obviously taking note of reports that Russia might sell arms to Pakistan and China. India has a high stake in Moscow’s arms sales policy,

The defence ministry is seriously reviewing the ramifications of Moscow’s policy on India’s long term strategy. India’s Russian connection is also giving it some indirect benefits.

Malaysia, which recently decided to buy a squadron of MIG-29 fighter planes from Russia signed an agreement with India to make use of the facilities for getting spares and servicing,

Vietnam is also seeking India’s cooperation to get spares for MIG21 planes. But these benefits are seen by India as marginal in the context of its long-term strategic interest the earlier advantage of paying in rupees for buying military hardware from the former Soviet Union has gone.

India’s option can be said to be wide since it can explore other sources on payment in hard currency. Pawar is likely to offer a proposal for working out a barter deal to facilitate arms purchase from Russia, India is a major supplier of consumer and some finished goods to Russia. India also buys. a good quantity of crude oil from Russia.

Even before the collapse of the Soviet Union, India had initiated a policy of diversifying the summits of arms purchase. India got a good response from Britain, France and Germany, Lately, the US has offered a whole lot of military hardware to India. India is trying to build a light combat aircraft, (ICA), on the strength of engines supplied by an American company. India and the US lately organized their first-ever naval exercise in the Arabian Sea.

A joint committee between the Indian Army and the Pacific Command of the United States has been set up to facilitate cooperation in terms of training and exercise between the two forces,

India has also to sort out with Russia the problems of getting spares since this problem has taken a serious proportion. India is likely to seek Russia’s cooperation in buying its technology. In India’s reckoning, establishment of facilities for manufacturing aircraft and other hardware of Russian origin would eventually by of mutual benefit,

The outcome of Pawar’s visit to Moscow will largely depend on some explanation of Russia’s long term arms sales policy. India can hardly afford to face a situation when identical arms and aircraft go to countries with whom it has an adverse relationship.

 

Article extracted from this publication >> September 18, 1992