In the initial post-independence period, India could not rely on Britain for its defence needs. United Kingdom was skeptical of arming either India or Pakistan and this further fuelled conflict after 1947.
The United States adopted the same attitude after the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965. India therefore turned towards the Soviet Union for arms transfers.
The Soviets also provided equipment that was simple to operate and maintain which suited Indian needs.
The defence links developed between the two countries were reinforced by a shared sense of threat from China.
Defence cooperation between Russia and India remains strong because of shared security concerns, geopolitical imperatives and economic benefits. Both countries fear radical Islamic terrorism, share concerns about regional instability in Central Asia and the rise of China.
Russia’s defence industry needs foreign sales to achieve economies of scale and sustain a manufacturing base that remains excessive for simply meeting Russian domestic demand.
India has an enormous legacy of Soviet-based weapons that it needs to modernize, upgrade and replace. In addition Russian arms supplies continue to offer a good price-performance trade-off.
Defence cooperation is an important pillar of the India-Russia strategic partnership. It is guided by the Programme for Military Technical Cooperation signed between the two countries which is valid at present till 2020.
India and Russia have an institutionalized structure to oversee the complete range of issues of military technical cooperation. The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) set up in 2000 is at the apex of this structure.
Bilateral projects currently underway include indigenous production of T-90 tanks and Su-30-MKI aircraft, supply of MiG-29-K aircraft and Kamov-31 and Mi-17 helicopters, upgrade of MiG-29 aircraft and supply of Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher Smerch. Joint exercises between the two Armed Forces are held under the title INDRA.
Over the years, cooperation in the military technical sphere has evolved from a purely buyer-seller relationship to joint research, design development and production of state of the art military platforms. Production of the Brahmos cruise missile is an example of this trend.
The two countries are also engaged in joint design and development of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft and Multi-Role Transport Aircraft.
MITRA SHAKTI 2017
The fifth India- Srilanka joint training exerciseMitra Shakti 2017 focussing on counter-terrorism operations was organized at Aundh Military Station in Pune.
The exercise was based on Counter- Terrorist Operations and an infantry company from both the countries was participating in it.
The SriLanka- India combined training exercise Mitra Shakti 2017 in its 5th edition sent a strong signal to the world that both the countries understand the emerging threat of terrorism and stand shoulder to shoulder in countering this menace.
PASSEX EXERCISE WITH JAPANESE MARINE:
A PASSEX exercise is an exercise done between two navies to ensure that the two navies are able to communicate and cooperate in times of war or humanitarian relief.
India and Japan organized PASSEX exercise from 12th-15th October 2017. Indian naval ships Satpura and Kadmatt participated in PASSEX exercise with Japanese Marine Self Defence Force (JMSDF) held at Sasebo, Japan. These ships participated in the exercise in pursuance of India’s Act East Policy and demonstration of India’s commitment to peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region.
It is part of Indian government’s initiatives to strengthen the long-standing, mutually supportive and strong relationship between Japan and India.
What is INDRA ? Critically analyze the defence ties of India and Russia in the light of INDRA.
INS Kiltan
DefenceMinister Nirmala Sitharaman commissioned INS Kiltan in Visakhapatnam at the Eastern Naval Command.
