Arms deal with Moscow fits into India’s defence needs

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 15

The agreement between India and Russia on military equipment purchase is being tipped as a “game-changer” as it further cements the five-decade-old ties between the two nations.

The outcome of the Narendra Modi-Vladimir Putin bilateral meeting in Goa this afternoon will be read with keen interest among military observers in China, Pakistan, the US, Japan and Europe.

Set to cost $5 billion (Rs 39,000 crore), “S-400 Triumf” air defence missiles are mounted on road mobile launchers and carried by specialised trucks. The missile system includes multi-layered radars capable of tracking 300 targets such as missiles, planes, drones, helicopters and shoot down around three dozen simultaneously. It can hit incoming airborne targets between 20 km and 400 km — a rarity to have such vast range mated in a single missile system. It can also hit target at an altitude of 55 km. With inter-continental missiles (having more than 5,500 km range) travelling at 70-80 km altitude, this can come in handy for the defence forces. Russia deployed the missile system during the attack launched on the Islamic State in Syria a few months ago.

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The Kamov 226T helicopter will allow pilots to fly to the Siachen glacier or similar altitudes across the Himalayas much safely and with greater load carrying capacities. At least 200 of the twin-engine Kamov — a light utility helicopter — will be produced. These will cost $1 billion (Rs 6,800 crore).

The helicopters will be deployed for surveillance, dropping small loads and for rescue, including of troops posted at high altitudes such as the Siachen Glacier-Saltoro Ridge region. It has a flight ceiling of 18,700 feet — meaning it can fly over almost all of the Himalayan passes with ease. It will be made in India by public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). 

Admiral Grigorovich-class (Project 11356) stealth frigates will replace the three Godavari-class frigates that the Navy has. One of these has been de-commissioned while the other two are on their way out. The “Yantar” shipyard in Russia made six of these between 2003 and 2013. Of the four more, two are ready in Russia and will have a Ukrainian engine. The deal had been held up due to frosty relations between Russia and Ukraine. Two others will be made at an Indian shipyard.