Angry Russian Defense Minister leaves Delhi in fury

Posted on 29 September 2008. Tags: India, Russia

The furious Russian Defense Minster seems to have abandoned his trip and left New Delhi in a hissy fit. The last time the Russian officials showed up in Delhi, Sonai Gandhi did not even meet him. This time, Antony Serdyukov cut short his trip and left amidst speculation that the heated discussion on price and Transfer of Technology (ToT) did not go well. India was not at all happy with the new bill for the Russian Airfcraft Carrier which keeps rising by the day and has still not peaked. the new contract calls for a “cost plus” project and Russia refused to cap the price of the carrier.

Russian defence minister cuts short his visit
Press Trust of India, India – Sep 28, 2008: New Delhi, Sept 28 (PTI) Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who arrived here this evening on a three-day visit, will be in India only for 24 hours

The tall tales of Indian defense production are shattered once again. Indian Purchase orders from Russia and the USA tell a tale of failure and incompetence. India has been unable even to make the LCA which has been in development for more than a decade. The entire missile program has been scrapped, and tanks program already is doldrums cannot meet the needs of the Indian army.

Russia’s delay in giving “full ToT” for India’s plan to manufacture 1,000 T-90S tanks has taken place even after New Delhi first imported 310 of these tanks for over Rs 3,625 crore under a February 2001 contract, and then signed another Rs 4,900 crore contract in November 2007 to import 347 more tanks. The story of ToT delays and cost escalations is the same in the contracts for 230 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, overall worth around $8.5 billion. Times of India 29 Sep 2008, 0343 hrs IST, Rajat Pandit,TNN

A lot of water has gone down the Volga and the Ganga since the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission for Military and Technical Commission (IRIGC-MTC) was signed in 2000. The meeting between the Indian Defense Minister AK Antony and the Russian Defense Minister Antony Serdyukov was mostly a ceremonial affair.

New Delhi, Sept 29 (ANI): Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov met his Indian counterpart A K Antony at South Block today. Earlier, Serdyukov laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. After paying homage, Serdyukov was presented a Guard of Honour at South Block by the Indian armed forces. The Indian

Antony Serdyukov brought good tidings, but bad news for the Indians. He asked India for another two Billion Dollars for the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft Carrier and told the Indians that the delivery date would be delayed again.

As earlier reported by TOI, India may now have to pay as much as $2 billion more to get the 44,570-tonne carrier by end-2012, over and above the original $1.5 billion package deal of January 2004 for a fully-refurbished Gorshkov and 16 MiG-29Ks. Moreover, the defence ministry recently approved the Navy’s case for acquisition of 29 more MiG-29Ks for Rs 5,380 crore. Times of India (29 Sep 2008, 0343 hrs IST, Rajat Pandit,TNN)

He also informed the Indians that for $10 Billion India would get stripped down versions of the Mig 29 whose design has already been frozen and trials are due in march 2009. He informed his hosts that because of the lack of Indian infrastructure, he wasn’t sure if any of the part could be manufactured locally in India. He however promised them a decision at the end of the year.

India, of course, is upset with Russia for not sticking to delivery schedules, creating roadblocks in transfer of technology (ToT), jacking up costs midway through execution of agreements and failing to provide uninterrupted supply of spares. ToT problems, for instance, have dogged the indigenous manufacture of both the T-90S and the Sukhoi-30MKI projects despite Russia earning big bucks in the huge contracts. Times of India 29 Sep 2008, 0343 hrs IST, Rajat Pandit,TNN

The Indian wondered what they will be able to do within a few weeks (Jan 2009-March 2009) if the planes would be flying in March 2009.

India buying 347 Russian T-90 tanks

The Associated Press: NEW DELHI: India confirmed Monday it will purchase 347 T-90 battle tanks from Russia and said it will consider a demand from Moscow that it pay an additional US$1.2 billion because of delays in a deal for a Soviet-built aircraft carrier and 16 fighter jets.

Visiting Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony also signed a protocol Monday for the joint development and production of military hardware. Another 1,000 T-90 tanks will be manufactured in India under a technology transfer agreement with Russia, an Indian defense ministry statement said.

Serdyukov said defense ties between Russia and India “are transforming from a vendor-seller relationship to joint development and production.”

The 347 T-90 tanks are expected to cost India 49 billion rupees (US$1.1 billion), according to Indian newspaper reports.(http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/29/asia/AS-India-Russia-Military-Cooperation.php)

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