Russia stated that it anticipates the serial manufacture of AK 203 rifles to commence in Amethi in late 2022 or early 2023, as the second regiment of the S-400 Triumf air defense system begins to be delivered. With this, Russia wants to build the next generation of tanks and submarines with India.
In order to demonstrate that it is the only nation in the world capable of carrying out a full Transfer of Technology (TOT) for high-tech defense equipment, Russia has stated that it plans to work with India to develop the next generation of armored vehicles and submarines.
Additionally, Russia stated that it has adhered to its contractual commitments and delivered all systems, including the S-400 air defense system, on schedule despite the ongoing conflict with Ukraine that has led to international sanctions, reports ThePrint.
The second regiment of the S-400 system is already in the process of being delivered.
Dmitry Shugaev, the head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), said: “Work is underway to organise the production of the AK-203 assault rifles in India, the serial production of which is expected to begin in late 2022-early 2023. The implementation of contracts for the construction of Project 11356 frigates in Russia and India is also proceeding as planned. The current geopolitical situation has not significantly affected the fulfillment of our obligations.”
He was speaking on the sidelines Army 2022, a global defense exhibition being hosted by Russia in Moscow.
The head of the FSMTC, which handles all military-related business and international trade, claimed that Russia has long provided India with the most modern weapons and military hardware.
“Russia is the only country that engages in large-scale cooperation with India in the field of sophisticated military technologies including transfer of knowhow to Indian partners.”
“During more than 60 years of military-technical cooperation, our countries have, in fact, implemented the principle of Make in India,” he said.
Shugaev claimed that during those years, hundreds of military industrial companies and facilities were established in India with assistance from the USSR and later Russia, “which currently form the basis of the Indian defense sector.”
“With our assistance, dozens of types of high-tech military products have been localised in India. The current stage of our relations in this area of cooperation is distinguished by India’s desire to accelerate the development of its national military-industrial complex, reduce the dependence on imports of military products and join the ranks of the world’s leading arms exporters.”
“We support this desire and are ready for industrial cooperation, looking for joint projects that, on the one hand, would be beneficial for Russian and Indian enterprises, and, on the other, would ensure our relations reach a new level of technological partnership,” he said.
Shugaev stated that the Russian side was prepared for collaboration and had already made offers for working together to design and produce cutting-edge military gear.
Asked what these were, he said, “A future main battle tank, infantry fighting vehicle, fifth-generation aircraft, diesel-electric submarines and other types of modern weapons.”
He highlighted, in an apparent dig at western nations, “Once again I want to emphasise that Russia is ready for the widest technological cooperation, unlike the Western so-called ‘partners’, who promise a lot, but in fact are not very eager to share advanced technologies with India.”
He claimed that there are no parallels to the military-technical collaboration between Russia and India in the entire world.
Shiugaev observed that a large number of nations had plans to establish their own military production through the exchange of technology and the acquisition of skills.
India, which runs the Make in India program, is undoubtedly one of the leaders in this field, he added.
“We do understand these trends and are ready to flexibly respond to them. We have a number of similar projects with India — the BrahMos missile, the localisation of tank rounds, and Kalashnikov assault rifles, and the construction of ‘11356 frigates’ at an Indian shipyard,” he said.
He asserted that there is room for mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and India in the provision of military hardware.
The Indian armed forces use a wide variety of Russian-made weapons for land, sea, aviation, and air defense.
“All Russian-made military products supplied for export have an envisaged potential for upgrade, and the equipment delivered to India is no exception.”
“In addition to upgrading, there are other areas of cooperation between our countries, such as creating conditions for servicing the delivered weapons and equipment in India, as well as jointly producing various types of equipment and weapons for sale in third countries,” Shiugaev said.
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