NEW DELHI: Defence planners of the country faced with the problem of spares in the wake of the unmaking of the Soviet Union has, however, little to cheer in the formation of the commonwealth of independent States. Absence of a central authority to monitor various defence deals, committed by the erstwhile Union has only added to their dilemma. Transfer of technology, pricing system and new ‘equipment already under negotiations has been casualties in the new scheme of things.

It may take six months to a year before the new republics can if at all address themselves to India’s defence requirements, according to top sources.

‘The Russian move to drastically reduce its staff by half in the trade mission in Delhi is indicative of the uncertainty pervading the bilateral ‘defence trade, A staff of about 260 personnel in the mission in divided into general economic department (GED) and general economic trade (GET), While the GED deals with the documentation and transfer of defence technology to India, the GET deals with trade and shipping.

‘Agreements reached over spares procurement between a high powered defence delegation headed by Krishna Kumar, minister of state for defence, and the Soviet leaders in Moscow earlier this year now looks redundant notwithstanding assurances to the contrary By the low powerful Russian Federation.

‘The biggest problem now facing defence planners is that related facilities are scattered in the republics and that none except Russia has the wherewithal to take up the various deals which have been committed to India. For instance, The Soviet T72 tank plant for manufacture and over hauling is in Balarus, while the T-55 tank factories area in Ukraine. ‘The Soviet BMP, (armored personnel carriers) indigenously assembled in India under license have plants in both Kiev and Minsk and none in Russia. “Unless the commonwealth brings under its purviews the equipment factories, there is bound to be problems for as “observed a top service officer, individual republics, in the absence of a central ‘monitoring authority can dictate terms as on prices.

Spares the earner used to come on deferred payment for 3 to 4 years have already been discontinued with. Even rice preference which implies the rupee rouble exchange rat fixing has been ruled out. The republics now insist on cash payments in hard currency.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 10, 1992