Indo Russian Defence cooperation most important partnership

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra added that the two countries and their defence ministries are always in contact on issues of defence partnership

Defence cooperation between India and Russia is an important part of bilateral partnership, with the issues related to this cooperation to be discussed during the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told a briefing in New Delhi.

“Defence cooperation between India and Russia is a very important segment of our privileged strategic partnership and its important element,” he said, adding that the two countries and their defence ministries are always in contact on issues of defence partnership.

Asked about supplies of Russian arms, including S-400 air defense systems, to India Kwatra noted that he “did not intend to disclose the details of discussions on that issue,” adding though that “the delivery of S-400 is one of the elements of defence partnership.”

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said earlier that Modi would pay a working visit to Moscow on July 8-9 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, the ministry said.

This important pillar of Strategic partnership between the two countries is guided by an Agreement on the Programme for Military Technical Cooperation signed between the two countries for the period 2021 – 2031. This was signed during the inaugural meeting of India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue which was held in Delhi on 6th December 2021.

This Agreement provides for the two governments to further develop and strengthen the Military and Military technical cooperation in the sphere of research and development, production and after sales support of armament systems and various military equipment. The two sides also have periodic exchanges of armed forces personnel and military exercises.

There is an institutionalized structure to oversee the complete range of issues of military and military technical cooperation. The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), is at the apex of this structure. The two Defence Ministers meet annually, alternately in Russia and India, to discuss and review the status of ongoing projects and other issues of military and military technical cooperation. There are two Working Groups and nine Sub-Groups under the IRIGC-M& MTC, which review and discuss an array of military and military technical issues.

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 joint Venture namely Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) has been established and it has started production of AK-203 rifles in India under “Make in India” initiative.