India Seeks Russian Help With Defense Tech to Increase 'Make in India' Component

© AFP 2023 / Money SHARMAMinister of Defence, Finance and Corporate Affairs of India Arun Jaitley listens during the inaugural session of the India-Russia military and industrial conference in New Delhi on March 17, 2017
Minister of Defence, Finance and Corporate Affairs of India Arun Jaitley listens during the inaugural session of the India-Russia military and industrial conference in New Delhi on March 17, 2017 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said Russia should be more liberal in sharing technology for components of Russian-origin equipment so as to increase indigenous production of components under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India program.

Su-34 (left), T-50 (centre) and Su-35 (right) aircraft at the 2015 MAKS air show's opening ceremony in the Moscow suburban town of Zhukovsky. - Sputnik International
World
Russia, India Finalizing Agreement on Fighter Jet Development Work - Minister
New Delhi (Sputnik) — The defense minister said Russia has been India's time-tested strategic partner for 70 years.

"Many of the defense platforms, particularly Russian platforms made in India under license production, have very high import content, because these components are sub-systems and are still imported. We need to review this trend and increase the indigenous content of our defense capital procurement," Jaitley said.

As most of India's defense equipment and inventory is of Russian origin, Russian companies would have the comparative advantage in partnering with Indian companies.

"We are one of the largest importers of military hardware; this is not a label we are happy with. Make in India in defense aimed at not only domestic needs but for Indian companies to be part of the global supply chain. I think there is tremendous scope for collaboration so that they are part of a global supply chain," said Jaitley.

Russian Helicopters on MAKS-2015 - Sputnik International
Indian Firm Interested in Buying Up to 5% of Russian Helicopters Shares
For instance, technology transfer is holding up the signing of the final agreement on the fifth generation fighter jets program since 2013, said defense sources.

"It will be still better if Russia transfers the technology for indigenous production. It will further reduce the uncertainty associated with import from Russia, apart from promoting manufacturing in India, even if it will be of spares," said Amit Cowshish, former financial advisor to the Defense Ministry.

India is also hopeful of becoming a member of the Wassenaar export control regime soon which will allow access to technologies that can be used for both civil and military purposes. "Joining the Wassenaar agreement will integrate India with the global efforts for non-proliferation and facilitate India's defense trade," said Cowshish.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала