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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS | STRAINS ON INDIA-RUSSIA DEFENCE COOPERATION | 04TH JUY | THE HINDU

/ July, 2022, UPSC Daily Current Affairs

SYLLABUS SECTION: GS II (INTERNATIONAL RELATION)

WHY IN THE NEWS?

Ukraine Russia war has given rise to apprehensions on Russia’s ability to adhere to timely deliveries of spares and hardware to India in defence cooperation.

RUSSIA’S ROLE IN INDIA’S STRATEGIC ARMS

  • Russia has provided most important weapons platforms that India has required,
  • From time to time including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, tanks, guns, fighter jets, and missiles.
  • Russian-origin weapons and platforms across Indian armed forces is as high as 85%.
  • Russia is the second-largest arms exporter in the world, following only the United States.
  • India is the largest importer, of Russian Arms and Russia is the largest exporter when it comes to arms transfer.

WHAT SAW THE DECLINE?

  • Between 2000 and 2020, Russia accounted for 66.5% of India’s arms imports.
  • Russia’s share in Indian arms imports was down to about 50% between 2016 and 2020,
  • But it still remained the largest single importer.
PRESENT STATUS OF DEFENCE COOPERATION
  • Indian armed forces had stocks of spares and supplies for eight to ten months,
  • And the expectation was that the war would end quickly.
  • Armed forces are looking at certain alternative mitigation measures and identifying alternate sources from friendly foreign countries.
  • This is also an opportunity for the private industry to step up production and meet the requirements.
IMPACT OF THE WAR
  • While some timeline lapses and shipping delays were possible, there would not be any dent on the Army’s operational preparedness along the borders.
  • In addition, the armed forces have also made significant emergency procurements since the standoff in Eastern Laddakh and have stocked up on spares and ammunition.
  • However, Russia has assured India that it would adhere to delivery timelines.
  • Since the war sees no end, Russian industry would be caught up in replenishing the inventories of their own armed forces.
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF DEALS UNDERWAY/NEW DEALS PENDING WITH RUSSIA?
  • The defence trade between India and Russia has crossed $15 billion since 2018, in the backdrop of some big deals including the $5.43 billion S-400 long range air defence systems.
  • Other major contracts currently under implementation are construction of four additional stealth frigates in Russia and India,
  • There is a licensed production of the Mango Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds for the T-90S tanks as also additional T-90S tanks, AK-203 assault rifles among others.
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF PAYMENTS?
  • While India continues to remain Russia’s largest arms buyer with a major chunk of legacy hardware from Russia and the Soviet Union, the volume of imports has reduced in the last decade.
  • With Russia being shut out of the global SWIFT system for money transfers, India and Russia have agreed to conduct payments through the Rupee-Rouble arrangement.
  • With several big-ticket deals including the S-400 under implementation, there are large volume of payments to be made.

Read more: UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

SOURCE: THE HINDU