Russian companies should manufacture defense equipment in India, appeals Defense Minister Jetley

Moscow : India’s new defense policy being extremely simple, the Russian companies should take advantage of it and should collaborate with Indian companies and manufacture advanced defense equipment in India itself, appealed Defense Minister Arun Jaitley. Defense Minister Arun Jaitley made this appeal during his three-day visit to Russia, which started on Wednesday.

The 17^th conference of ‘Indian-Russian Inter Governmental Commission of Military Technology Corporation’ will be held on June 23. The Defense Minister is on the tour to Russia to attend this conference. In the course of this conference, Defense Minister Jetley will meet Russia’s Defense Minister General Sergey Shoygu and will have a bilateral discussion.

In the past few months, several agreements have been expedited between the two nations. Recently, during the Indian Prime Minister’s Russia visit, the preliminary cooperation agreement for the supply of ‘S-400’ air defense system, was signed. A joint venture company was recently established for the manufacture of fighter helicopters ‘Kamov’ within India itself. Still several defense related agreements are pending within the two nations.

It is said that talks are on for the repair of old Indian submarines and also for engaging new nuclear submarine on rental basis from Russia. Apart from this, Russia is also eager for supplying fighter planes to India. Against this background, the importance of Defense Minister Jaitley’s Russia visit, just after the tour of Prime Minister Modi, has increased.

Considering India’s increased defense related needs, the leading companies worldwide are expressing their interest in manufacturing defense equipment within India, complying with the ‘Make in India’ policy. The companies of India’s traditionally friendly country Russia, should also take initiative in this regard and start manufacturing defense equipment within India itself, in joint ventures with the Indian companies, accepting India’s proposal of technology transfer, appealed Defense Minister Jaitley.

The Defense Minister was addressing the delegates attending ‘Technoprom 2017’, convened in Novosibirsk city in Russia. The Russian companies have a vast experience of working with Indian companies. They should take advantage of this. India has recently given its nod to ‘Strategic Partnership’ related to the manufacture of defense equipment. Due to this, private companies in India can also manufacture defense equipment and make joint venture with foreign companies, highlighted Defense Minister Jaitley on this occasion.