India inks Rs 2,182 cr missile deal with Russia despite US sanctions
Reaffirms faith in indigenous helicopter, signs contract for six more ALH Mk-III for Coast Guard
Amid US President Donald Trump’s sanctions on Russia, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday signed a contract to procure a fresh stock of Russian-origin surface-to-air missiles to strengthen the air defence capabilities of Indian Navy warships.
The ministry also reaffirmed its confidence in the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), inking a separate contract for six additional ALH Mk-III helicopters for the Coast Guard.
The two contracts are together valued at Rs 5,083 crore — Rs 2,182 crore for the missile systems and Rs 2,901 crore for the helicopters.
In November last year, President Trump had announced a new wave of hard-hitting sanctions aimed at isolating Russia, warning that countries maintaining trade ties with Moscow would be “very severely sanctioned”.
The Russian missile system, Shtil, is a surface-to-air missile developed by Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation. It can engage aerial targets up to 45 km away. The contract for the procurement of the missiles and associated missile holding frames has been signed with JSC Rosoboronexport. The acquisition is intended to substantially enhance the air defence capabilities of frontline warships against a wide spectrum of aerial threats, providing rapid-reaction, all-weather engagement capability and improved survivability in contested maritime environments.
The MoD said the contract “underscores the longstanding and time-tested defence partnership between India and Russia, founded on mutual trust and strategic alignment”.
Meanwhile, the contract for the ALH Mk-III version has been inked with public sector major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru. It includes operational equipment, an engineering support package and performance-based logistics support.
The contract comes just days after the ALH fleets operated by the Navy and the Coast Guard were cleared for flying. ALH fleets across the Army, IAF, Navy and Coast Guard had been grounded following a Coast Guard helicopter crash on January 5 last year that killed three personnel.
The Navy and Coast Guard together operate 51 ALHs, which have now been cleared to fly with certain conditions. The Army and IAF fleets were cleared in April last year. A report by a ‘defect investigation team’ set up by HAL had found cracks in the swashplates of the Navy and Coast Guard ALHs, attributed to operations in saline maritime environments, raising concerns over material fatigue.
The Army operates around 200 ALHs and the IAF about 75. The MoD said the fresh induction would significantly enhance the Coast Guard’s capability to safeguard artificial islands and offshore installations, and protect fishermen and the marine environment.
