The much delayed LCA programme and the shrinking combat aircraft holdings of the IAF has compelled India to float global request for proposals for 126 fighter aircrafts in an expected mega deal of $ 7 billion. Russia, realizing it is not a front runner to clinch this deal, has indicated its displeasure by downgrading the visit status of our senior ministers. The Russian aircraft contending for this fighter deal is an upgraded version of an outdated design. Should the Russian aircraft be short-listed, India will have to carefully analyse Russia’s capability to provide product support over its life-cycle, given the direction in which Russia;s military industrial complex is headed. Had the design of the Russian aircraft been contemporary, joint production would have been a win-win situation.
As and when the 126 aircraft deal is finalised, and if Russia is not the supplier, the reverberations will impact on the India-Russia strategic relationship and both the Indian and Russian establishments will have to employ all their diplomatic skills to manage the fallout. In the new world order, both India and Russia will have to learn to manage their strategic relationship in consonance with their national interests.
From a military viewpoint it is strategically imperative for India to diversify the sourcing of imported weapon systems and therefore vital to progressively reduce dependency on Russia without adversely affecting the operational preparedness of our armed forces. The India -Russia strategic relations can continue to be energised through jointness in defence production, space, nuclear and scientific co-operation and energy research.
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