The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Russia has led to the finaliztion of various deals that were crucial for the Indian Armed forces, especially the Indian Navy. The Head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriyev has announced that Russia will lease its Nerpa nuclear submarine to India by the end of the year. In addition, Indian and Russia also signed an agreement on the supply of kits to assemble 42 Su-30MKI Flanker multirole fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Russia is also ready to deliver the INS Teg warship which will be equipped by BrahMos missile.
The Indian Prime Minister was in Russia to attend the 12th annual India-Russia summit in Moscow. The visit is also meant to expand bilateral cooperation and consolidate coordination on various regional and global issues. Russia has stated that the Nerpa nuclear submarine is ready to be leased to India by this year end. The possession of Nerpa will make India the sixth member of an elite club of nations who operate nuclear-powered submarines. Although the $650 million lease contract for the Nerpa was signed in 2004, the scheduled transfer of the submarine by 2008 was delayed due to a major accident in which 20 people died.
Besides the leasing of Nerpa, the Indian Navy will also be receiving the INS Teg, a Russian-built frigate for the Indian Navy which will be equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. The INS Teg, currently with the Russian Navy, will be taken when the Indian Naval crew arrives in Russia. Since the BrahMos has been tested successfully on it, INS Teg is ready to set sail and will be handed over to India once the Indian Navy crew arrives later this month or early 2012. INS Teg will be the first of the Talwar class frigates to be equipped with the 290-km BrahMos missiles jointly developed by India and Russia. The Russian Navy successfully test-fired the BrahMos from the ship's bow in December after conducting the sea trails a few months ago.
The Indian Navy plans to induct INS Teg warship by March 2012. INS Teg is the first of six Talwar (Krivak) class frigates to be equipped with BrahMos missiles. This class of warship is equipped with sensors, weapons and missile systems and stealth and has low radar, infra-red, noise, frequency and magnetic signatures to avoid enemy detection. These warships are also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil air defence system, two Kashtan air defence gun and missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo tubes, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Besides inking the crucial deal for upgradation of the Su-30 MKI and finalizing delivery of the nuclear submarine Nerpa and INS Teg warship, India has also touched on the issue of delivery of aircraft carrier Gorshkov (INS Vikramaditya). The Gorshkov issue was raised by the Indian Prime Minister during the 12th Indo-Russian Summit talks with President Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin. He raised the issue of delay in the delivery of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy and indicated that it was important for India that the ship arrives in time. According to the Russian side, the delivery would be delayed till 2012. Russia also claims that India did not make any payments for the extra work to the tune of $1.7 billion that has been done by the shipyard. |