by Pratap Chakravarty
NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (AFP)
A long-term defence agreement signed here by Russia and India can help New Delhi only
after its traditional ally revives
its dying armament industry, experts said on Wednesday.
India, however, argues that the 10-year pact � signed during Russian Premier Yevgeny
Primakov�s two-day visit which
ended Tuesday � will see its tested military partnership with Russia evolve in the 21st
century.
The accord, which replaces a similar agreement ending December 31, 1999, aims to move away
from straightforward
Indian dependence on Russian military hardware, into the fields of co-production, joint
research and technology transfer.
�It is not a preferential treaty but an indicator of our mutual interest, especially in
the privatisation process of (Russia�s)
armament sector,� an Indian official told reporters after Primakov�s departure.
�The pact is a statement of intent and not a result of deals or contracts under
negotiation,� he said, echoing military
experts who described the accord as more political than commercial in nature.
Afzal Karim, a key advisor in India�s recently-launched National Security Council, said
the agreement was commercially
redundant given the ailing state of the Russian arms industry.
�Russia today cannot even supply wheels for our jets because they are not in a good shape
and this accord will only
become valid once its armament industry improves,� Karim told AFP.
�There is nothing strategic about this accord. It simply indicates that India�s
friendship with Russia is still close,� Karim
said.
Russia, which accounts for 50 percent of India�s 1,200 military trainer and combat
planes, has lagged on the delivery of
40 Sukhoi-30s worth four billion dollars after an initial consignment of eight jets.
It has succeeded in upgrading just two of India�s 120 ageing MiG-21 fighters after
bagging a revamp deal worth hundreds
of million of dollars some four years ago.
Moscow, however, is offering one of its aircraft carriers free of cost as a platform, on
condition that New Delhi arms the
vessel with Russian weapons and their maritime Sukhoi-33 combat jets.
It is also in the race to pick up a 1.16 billion dollar deal for 66 advanced jet trainers
but has conceded the aircraft, to be
produced in collaboration with three French firms, would roll out only next year.
Cash-strapped India, on the other hand, hopes to pick up 300 T-90 Russian tanks on soft
terms and build a nuclear-
powered submarine through collaborations or technology transfers.
It is also toying with launching its own �Star-Wars� project with Russian electronic
surveillance hardware and missiles to
protect against long-range strikes.
Sujit Dutta from the independent Indian Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, said
the accord would give India a
wider choice of purchases for its armed forces in the future.
�Since the accord is not a preferential treaty, Russia will have to play by the rules of
today�s competitive environment. It
however, has an advantage of offering lower price tags,� Dutta said.
�But in terms of joint research and technology transfer, the accord is important for
India.�