A tactical imperative and a strategic rekindling of relations could both result from the Defense Acquisition Council’s clearing the purchase of five advanced S-400 Triumph antiballistic missile systems from Russia.

The price, an estimated 350 billion rupees, or about $5.28 billion (to be paid in hard currency), would certainly be duly appreciated by the Russians, who have their economic difficulties given the shrinking of dealings with the West. A major gap in the Indian defense shield would be plugged, and the quality of the S-400 stands confirmed with the Russians deploying it in Syria after one of their jets was shot down by Turkey. Hopefully the purchase, to be finalized during Indian Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia, will fructify quicker than other defense deals during a foreign trip — there are still “issues” with the purchase of 36 Rafale combat jets (in flyaway condition) from France. Moves to acquire the missile shield, initially an earlier version, have been in the making for some time; that does not rule out pinpricks when the nitty-gritty is being processed.

Looking to the bigger canvas, the Triumph purchase could help resuscitate the traditional supply line from what until recently was the Indian military’s prime source of hardware. The opening of arrangements with Israel and the U.S. had tended to slow down the flow from Russia — which still has to be “slick” in its marketing. And though never officially stated, that diverted attention had soured time-tested relations — as exemplified by major complications in the joint-development of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It must also be noted that Russia had been quick to respond to the “make in India” call by putting on the table joint-production in India of 200 Kamov K-25 multipurpose helicopters. Had an Indian partner been determined by now, the chopper shortage could have been closer to a remedy.

It will, however, require unraveling more than Indian red-tape to revive military supplies. From the sellers’ market in which the USSR/Russia had been dominant, India now takes a commercial, open-market, position. The Russians will need to prove their commercial credibility, reliability in terms of spare parts and product support. Remember it was the lack of a commercial perspective that had led India to look elsewhere when the Soviet military-industry complex had collapsed after the “union” had fractured itself. Hard work on both sides will be necessary to give fresh impetus to a relationship that, for a variety of reasons, had made the Indian forces heavily dependent on Russian equipment. Having produced fighter jets, tanks and other combat vehicles in this country the Russians ought to have some advantage in exploiting the “make in India” opportunity. Will Modi’s “Midnight in Moscow” yield results more aromatic than his “Evening in Paris?”

Editorial
(The Statesman)
(Asia News Network)