India to Sign S-400 Missile, Ka-226T Helicopter Deals with Russia

India to Sign S-400 Missile, Ka-226T Helicopter Deals with Russia
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/177943/india-to-sign-s_400-missile%2C-ka_226t-helicopter-deals-with-russia.html

India, Russia to Sign [$5.8 Billion] Deal for S-400 Air Defence Missile
Systems
(Source: Times of India; published Oct 14, 2016)
By Rajat Pandit

NEW DELHI — In a game-changing arms acquisition, India is going to ink a
Rs 39,000 crore ($5.8 billion—Ed.) deal for five new-generation Russian
S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems, which can destroy incoming hostile
aircraft, stealth fighters, missiles and drones at ranges of up to 400-km.

India and Russia will also finalise the long-awaited agreement for the joint
production of around 200 Kamov 226T light utility helicopters at a cost of
about $1 billion under the “Make in India” programme.

With Russian President Vladmir Putin headed for India to attend the BRICS
Summit in Goa, the S-400 deal as well as the joint venture for helicopters
to be established between defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics and Russian
Rostec State Corporation will be inked over the weekend.

TOI was the first to be report in October 2015 that India had decided to
purchase the S-400 systems, which basically have three kinds of missiles,
with different capabilities, that can fly at supersonic and hypersonic
speeds to intercept all kinds of targets at ranges from 120 to 400-km.
Russian experts even proclaim the S-400 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system
can “radar lock and shoot down” stealth fifth-generation fighters like the
American F-35 jets.

This procurement comes over an year after China sealed a $3 billion deal
with Russia for acquisition of six S-400 batteries. China is slated to get
the S-400 batteries, which is designated `SA-21 Growler’ by NATO and rivals
the anti-ballistic missile capabilities of the US Patriot PAC-3 system, from
2017 onwards.

As for the Kamov helicopters, which will replace the aging and obsolete
Cheetah and Chetak fleets of the armed forces, the deal will be signed
between defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics and Russian Rostec State
Corporation. HAL and Rostec will form a joint venture to set up the
production facilities to execute the deal.

As was reported by TOI last month, the decks had been cleared for the
helicopter deal after a flurry of high-level meetings between the two
countries. After a pronounced tilt towards the US in terms of defence deals
and military-to-military ties over the last decade, India has reassured
Russia that their traditional strategic partnership and defence projects
will continue as before.

Negotiations for other mega defence projects with Russia like the joint
development of the futuristic fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and
the $1.5 billion lease of a second nuclear-powered submarine are also on
track now.

Soon after it had come to office in 2014, the NDA government had scrapped
the long-pending acquisition of 197 light-utility helicopters from abroad,
the selection process for which has been dogged by corruption allegations
and technical deviations.

The armed forces have waited a long time for new helicopters to replace
their Cheetah/Chetak helicopters, which are even used even in high-altitude
areas like Siachen. In all, the Army and IAF need 384 light-utility
helicopters. HAL, which was tasked to manufacture 187 similar helicopters in
2009, too, is yet to deliver.

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Modi, Putin to Sign $1 Billion Kamov Chopper Deal During Goa BRICS Summit

(Source: India Today; published Oct 13, 2016)

NEW DELHI — Keeping in tune with the government’s focus on Make in India,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin are all set to
sign the Kamov 226T chopper deal during the BRICS summit on Saturday.

It is a $ 1 billion deal for joint production and export of 200 Ka-226T
choppers. The preliminary contract for 200 helicopters was signed during PM
Modi’s Russia tour.

KAMOV DEAL

Kamov-226T is a light multipurpose helicopter, which is designed to work in
tough conditions of high mountains, hot-arid climate, and marine-oceanic
areas. It is manufactured by the Russian Helicopters.

Ka-226T choppers are useful in reconnaissance, targeting and monitoring of
transportation of upto 1,500 kg load. It can carry seven soldiers or service
professionals at a maximum cruise speed of 220 kmph and a maximum takeoff
weight of 3,600 kg.

The Kamov chopper deal is aimed at replacing India’s ageing Cheetah and
Chetak helicopters.

CLOSE DEFENCE COOPERATION

“The contract for export and joint production of 200 Ka-226T helicopters is
one of the key projects in the framework of trade and industrial relations
between Russia and India. We plan to expand them in both military-technical
and civilian areas,” PTI quoted Sergei Chemezov, head of Rostec, as saying.

Rostec is a Russian state corporation, founded in 2007, bringing together
about 700 firms to promote, develop and export products of civil and
military use. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) could be the partner of
Rostec in the deal.

OTHER DEALS

Some other deals between India and Russia are also in the offing.

– S-400 Air Defence Missile System: It is very crucial missile defence
shield. Also called S-400 Triumf, it is the most advanced weapon in the
Russian arsenal. It is capable of shooting down the most advanced fighter
jet of the US- F-35. India is learnt to be looking at 5 systems. India is
the only the second country after China to be working on acquiring this
system

– Mi-17 V-5 medium lift transport helicopters: Talks for procurement of 48
helicopters for the IAF are underway. India has been relying extensively on
the Mi-17 for its transport helicopter fleet.

– BMP: It is an armoured personnel carrier. To augment the existing fleet
of infantry Combat vehicles, Indian Army is learnt to be looking for more
than 100 upgraded BMPs from Russia.

– 2 Diesel-electric submarines: Russian media has reported that India is
considering purchase of Varshayanka class Diesel-electric submarines to
augment the Indian Navy submarine fleet

Leasing another nuclear powered submarine: Russian media also reported that
India was in talks with Russia for lease of a nuclear powered submarine for
a stronger presence in the Indian ocean region.

PUTIN BACKS INDIA

President Vladimir Putin called India on Thursday Russia’s ‘privileged
strategic partner’. He underlined that his county remained the top supplier
of advanced weapons and defence technology to India.

Putin backed India in its fight against terrorism saying that Moscow and
other BRICS nations were determined to back New Delhi’s anti-terror fight.

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