Major Take Outs from Recent India-Russia Defence Deals

BENGALURU: Indian PM Narendra Modi and President of Russia, Vladimir Putin have signed some major defense pacts between both the countries. The leaders of both countries signed 16 pacts on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at Goa. India and Russia share a strong diplomatic relationship since a long time and these agreements will help to make them stronger. The Economic Times website has reported on how the agreement will help in making India’s defense line stronger.

India signed a deal worth $5Bn to buy S-400 Triumf air defense systems. This missile system has the capability of destroying an enemy missile, aircraft or drone within a range of 400 km. India was in talks with Russia about buying the advanced system since a year or so and now its inclusion will be a game changer for India’s defense capabilities.

Russia will invest $500Mn into the Indian infrastructure space and the same amount will be put into National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF). Modi and Putin made several other announcements to provide a boost to the sectors like investment and trade, smart cities, hydrocarbons, and space. A joint agreement is signed for specialist training and shipbuilding in Andhra Pradesh.

Vladimir Putin signed another agreement to build at least 200 Kamov helicopters in India. This decision is made on behalf of Narendra Modi’s drive to Make in India. The Indian prime minister is working to make India a manufacturing hub and making an industrial base for the defense equipment in the country. A pact is signed to set-up a Science and Technology Commission. Both countries raised their voices to show zero tolerance policy for terrorism.

Both leaders launched the second unit of Kudankulum nuclear power plant through video conferencing and commenced the foundation of its Unit 3 and Unit 4. Prime Minister Modi said that unit 2 of Kudankulum and foundation of unit 3 and unit 4 are the results of the concrete relation between Delhi and Moscow. Narendra Modi in his address called Russia as India’s old friend.

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