Russia, India talked on military cooperation in St. Petersburg

27.08.2010 Representatives of Russian and Indian defense industry took part in 16th Russian-Indian shipbuilding forum held in St. Petersburg.

The talks were focused on the key issues of military cooperation in shipbuilding, said a source in Rosoboronexport to the Central Navy Portal. Bilateral protocols on partnership in shipbuilding sphere were signed on Aug 26.

The shipbuilding subgroup convenes twice a year. This time it was held at JSC NPO Aurora in St. Petersburg. There is no a submarine or surface ship in Russian Navy not equipped with automated control system produced by NPO Aurora. It also must be pointed out that Aurora is one of few Russian defense-oriented companies which have representation office in Southeast Asia – in India.

Russia was represented by co-chairman of the subgroup Leonid Strugov, director of Shipbuilding Industry and Marine Engineering Dept of Russian Ministry of Trade and Industry, defense ministry officials, representatives of FSUE Rosoboronexport and Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation, and directors of Russian companies. India delegated Vice Admiral N.N. Kumar, Deputy Commander of Indian Navy, and Vice Admiral H.S.Malhi, director of Mazagon Dock Ltd. shipyard. Attendance of Mrs. Radhika L. Lokesh, Consul General of India in St. Petersburg was indicative of national level of the session.

According to the source, both parties actively discussed various matters of designing, building, and service maintenance of submarines and surface ships. By estimate of the source, the forum's agenda indicated trends of Russian-Indian cooperation – from direct sales to co-designing and co-production of naval engineering. We remind that this path has been chosen by developers of supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, 5-gen fighters, and military transport aircrafts.

The parties gained understanding in most discussed issues which is evidence of positive attitude of the partners, perspective teamwork, and absence of substantial claims to each other.

Some Asian-Pacific countries are permanently in state of political tension close to military confrontation. Competitiveness of Russian weapons at world arms market has been repeatedly proved in that region. Another milestone in Russian-Indian cooperation may open up new opportunities for Russian defense industry.