Rosoboronexport: In a boost to India’s defence industry, Russia’s top defence export body Rosoboronexport has expressed its readiness to give India technology for production of defence equipment.
Rosoboronexport, which recently marked its 20th anniversary said: “Historically, from the very beginning…..not only we supplied military equipment but also provided assistance in organising its production, creating repair and maintenance facilities.”
The company has worked together with Indian authorities for licensed production of multirole Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets in India, the modernisation and transfer of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy.
India and Russia share a close defence partnership, something that has been the pillar of the much-celebrated relationship.
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Calling the bilateral projects ‘fully consistent’ with the Make in India policy of Indian government, Rosoboronexport pointed out that it has been actively working with major Indian industrial companies – HAL, OFB, Bharat Forge, Bharat Dynamics, etc, and has “always appreciated the highest level of their expertise.”
The result of the Su-30MKI programme was the induction into the Indian Air Force of a new aircraft, which has become the world’s first super-manoeuvrable combat aircraft in serial production. It is also the first exported fighter jet equipped with the phased-array radar.
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Joint production of Kalashnikov AK203 assault rifles by the specially established Indo Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) rifle manufacturing facility in Korwa, Amethi is the next key focus of both sides.
While the project has its usual benefits of 100 per cent localisation programme, the project is still to be launched due to the absence of the production contract.
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However, both sides have agreed on the technical configuration of the rifle to be produced in India.
The AK203 project could become a major boost for the Amethi region, as well as potentially for India’s export ambitions. The joint programme also could see the possibility of rifles being exported to other countries.
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