Putin's Visit

[Contrarian]

I'l post all articles on Putin's visit here:

N-energy, visa power to hog Putin's R-Day trip

NEW DELHI: India and Russia will enhance their civil nuclear cooperation, sign crucial pacts in strategic areas of defence and space and impart a new vitality to their lukewarm trade ties during Russian President Valdimir Putin's two-day visit to India that commences on Thursday.

Putin, who has put Russia back into the reckoning as a major economic player riding on the crest of a booming oil economy, will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations - an honour that will signal an affirmation of close and time-tested ties between the two countries.

A clutch of agreements on setting up a joint venture in the energy sector, the purchase of a new generation MiG aircraft, the joint production of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) and close cooperation in civilian space sector, including the joint launch of satellites, and establishing a centre for technology transfer are expected to be signed during Putin's visit.

The two sides will also discuss ways and means to more than triple bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2010. A relaxation of the visa regime will be discussed to facilitate the easier movement of businessmen between the two sides.

Manmohan Singh and Putin, who will be accompanied by a large business delegation, will hold talks on Thursday to reinvigorate multi-faceted ties in areas ranging from business, defence and energy to space and civil nuclear cooperation.

They will also discuss Iran's nuclear impasse, North Korean nuclear tests and the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan as well as its impact on the region's security.

From India's point of view, enhancing civil nuclear cooperation with Russia, which is involved with building nuclear reactors in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, will top the agenda.

Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko has already arrived in Mumbai. He will go to Kudankulam.

A joint political declaration and a joint statement on continuation of civilian nuclear cooperation, under which Russia will build four more additional nuclear power units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, after the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifts its curbs, are expected at the end of summit between Manmohan Singh and Putin.

Accelerating bilateral cooperation in hydrocarbon sector will get high priority. India has invested $2 billion in Sakhalin-I oil block in Russia where ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of the national oil major, holds a 20 percent stake. India received the first shipment of oil from the Sakhalin-I in December. The two countries are also planning to develop oil reserves in the Bay of Bengal.

In space sector, the two countries are expected to sign an agreement on GLONASS - a global satellite-based navigation system touted as an alternative to the GPS system. They will discuss the nitty-gritty of jointly launching satellites.

Crucial military deals are likely to be signed. Russian Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov is in Mumbai talking to representatives of the defence industry. He arrives here Wednesday to meet his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony.

The two sides will step up discussions on the purchase of a fifth generation fighter aircraft that could be a competitor to the F-35 being developed jointly by the US, Britain and other countries.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...hog_Putins_R-Day_trip/articleshow/1381912.cms

 

[Contrarian]

India, Russia to sign 10 agreements

MOSCOW: India and Russia are expected to sign nearly 10 agreements, including on joint production of a multi-role transport aircraft and fifth generation fighter jets, during Russian president Vladimir Putin's New Delhi visit this week to fortify bilateral strategic partnership.

Officials and diplomats here said the two countries are expected to sign 8-10 agreements covering a wide spectrum of bilateral ties, including cooperation in civilian nuclear field, energy, space and defence.

Joint Indo-Russian political declaration, a joint statement on continuation of civilian nuclear cooperation under which Russia will build four more additional nuclear power units at Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu, after the lifting of curbs by Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Bilateral agreement on the joint use and development of Russian GLONASS space based global navigational system, accord on launching the YouthSat university satellite are among the documents expected to be signed during the summit or on the sidelines.

After the summit talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Putin, India and Russia are also expected sign an agreement to boost defence cooperation, including the joint development and production of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) and fifth generation fighter jet.

However, the concrete defence deals on the acquisition of 300 T-90S main battle tanks, up to 40 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters are not expected to be signed during the summit.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...to_sign_10_agreements/articleshow/1364060.cms

 

[Contrarian]

Russia set to offer MiG-35 fighters to India

ZHUKOVSKY (MOSCOW REGION): Russian aircraft-maker MiG plans to showcase its newest MiG-35 fighter at an air show in India, and to join a tender on supplying fighters for the Indian Air Force, the company said on Monday.

"We will hold a full-scale presentation of the (MiG-35) aircraft during an air show in Bangalore, said Vladimir Barkovsky, MiG's deputy general director.

The sixth biennial Aero India 2007 aerospace exhibition will be held Feb 7-11.

India earlier announced a tender for the acquisition of 126 light fighters for its Air Force for about $4 billion. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said Russia and the MiG Corporation would actively participate in the tender.

The MiG-35, an export version of the MiG-29M OVT (Fulcrum F), is a highly manoeuvrable air superiority fighter, which was shown for the first time in August 2005 during the MAKS Air Show outside Moscow.

The fighter is powered by RD-33 OVT thrust vectoring control engines. The RD-33 OVT engines provide superior manoeuvrability and enhance the fighter's performance in close air-to-air engagements.

Russia's MiG-35 will compete with US, Swedish and French jet fighters in the Indian tender.

The MiG Corporation has also started flight tests of the MiG-29K Fulcrum D naval fighter specifically designed for the Indian Navy, Barkovsky said.

Russia will supply the Indian Navy with 16 carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB aircraft (12 single-seat K models and four dual-seat KUB models) under a $740 million contract signed in January 2004.

The contract also stipulates the procurement of hardware for pilot training and aircraft maintenance, including flight simulators and interactive ground and sea based training systems.

Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in June 2007 before the upgrade of the Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) aircraft carrier is completed and the vessel is transferred to India. Deliveries of all 16 aircraft are expected to be completed by 2009.

An option to acquire 30 additional aircraft by 2015 is also included in the contract.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-35_fighters_to_India/articleshow/1384850.cms

 

[Contrarian]

Russia, India set to conduct counter-terrorism exercises in 2007

MOSCOW, January 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and India are planning to conduct joint land and naval counter-terrorism exercises in 2007, a Russian Defense Ministry official said Saturday.

INDRA-2007 is a biennial joint exercise between the armed forces of Russia and India aimed at coordinating cooperative engagement in the fight against terrorism.

"The details of the upcoming joint Russian-Indian exercise will be discussed during a visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov to India," said Colonel General Anatoly Mazurkevich, head of the Main Directorate for Foreign Military Cooperation.

The naval part of INDRA-2007 will be held in April 2007 at the Pacific Ocean involving naval units of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the Indian Navy.

The land part of the war games is scheduled for mid-September at the training grounds of the 76th Airborne Division near the city of Pskov in north-western Russia.

"Paratroopers will practice air drops with live firing," the general said adding that the counter-terrorism exercise will involve a Russian airborne battalion and a company of Indian paratroopers.

The previous joint Russian-Indian exercise, INDRA-2005, was held in India on October 10-20, 2005.

Mazurkevich also said the Russian defense minister will discuss bilateral military-technical cooperation during his visit to India on January 22-25.

The main topics of talks will include the supply of spare parts to Russian-made military equipment that was previously sold to India and the licensed production of RD-33 jet engines for MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-30MKI Flanker C fighter aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force, the general said.

According to various estimates, the Indian Air Force has up to 65 MiG-29's and 50 Su-30's.

 

[Contrarian]

Russia to help India build nuclear reactors

MOSCOW: Russian president Vladimir Putin has declared that the objective of his upcoming visit to New Delhi this week is to strengthen "strategic relationship", as the two countries enter into a whole new stage of cooperation in the civil nuclear area including in the construction of new reactors, supply of fuel and transfer of reprocessing technology.

“We intend to help India directly in construction of atomic energy facilities for peaceful use. Some of our companies are very much interested in acquiring large contracts for the construction of new facilities. On various occasions we have provided India with nuclear fuel and we will help in settling her problems in international affairs with the provision that Russia will abide by international obligations," Putin, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on Friday, said in an interview.

In the interview at the ornate 'Kaminiy' (fireplace) hall in the historic Kremlin Palace that lasted over 90 minutes, the 55-year-old leader politely refused to go into the details of the agreements expected to be finalised on the nuclear issue and on sale of multi-role transport aircraft and fifth generation fighter jets to India.

“This is exactly what we are going to discuss there. Do you want me to tell the whole story? Then what should we do in the course of our negotiations,”(ROFL!!!) he said, when asked whether more reactors are likely to be set up in the Russian-aided Kudankulam project in Tamil Nadu, and whether agreements would cover supply of fuel and reprocessing technology.

“All of that is already processed. Anyhow our Indian partners are fully aware that Russia has always been, is and will continue to be a reliable partner,” he said.

During the visit, Russia is expected to finalise an agreement on giving four more reactors in the Kudankulam project.

Putin also spoke warmly of the bilateral relationship saying India and Russia “have been time-tested partners and friends and we will continue to be just that in future.”

He also strongly supported India's bid for permanent membership at the United Nation Security Council. The Russian president also criticised the infiltration into India from across the border and spoke of his liking for Indian food.

“My attitude is positive. We proceed from the assumption that each country has a right to non-discriminatory recourse to energy resources. And I don't exclude it that it (the visit) will come up with certain agreements to be reached.

The Russian President said there was need to set up a net of international centres for enrichment of nuclear fuel under the auspices of international organisations -- first and foremost being the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Recalling the association between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Putin, whose visit will also mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between India and Russia, declared that his country was aware of the Indian leadership's plans to expand that sector.

“We stand ready to support our Indian friends, certainly with the provision that Russia will fulfill the obligations and commitments made in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. To do that we are negotiating both with the Indian partners and with the members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group,” he said.

Asked about the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said Russia does not go by what other countries do. “We are proceeding from our bilateral relationship with India."

Asked whether Russia would take up India's case at the NSG, he said: “This is exactly the state of affairs there. This has exactly been the agenda of experts of our countries who are involved in the NSG.

“We found the possibility of nuclear supplies being made earlier with regards to nuclear fuel deliveries. We will be constructing nuclear facilities in India. Our experts have been working constantly on the problems jointly with Indian partners in order to set out proper conditions which will be conducive to development of nuclear programmes of India. So this has been a very thought-out approach to addressing this issue.”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...reactors/articleshow/msid-1397879,curpg-2.cms

 

[Contrarian]

I say, i quite like President Putin
Too bad he cannot continue for a third term at the Kremlin

 

[Bull]

Russia hardsells military ware
Rajat Pandit
[ 25 Jan, 2007 0109hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]


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NEW DELHI: From the joint development of a new 'hypersonic'BrahMos cruise missile to an almost-clinched agreement for the fifth-generation stealth fighter, India and Russia are now poised to take their already robust defence relationship to an altogether new level.

The exact contours of the agreement for the G-5 fighter project, which may require India to invest around Rs 5,000 crore, and the specifications for the hypersonic BrahMos, which will fly over five times the speed of sound, will be thrashed out in the near future.

But the two countries went ahead on Wednesday and signed a protocol for the joint development of the 100-seater multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) and a contract for the licensed production of RD-33 engines for MiG-29s at Nasik in India.

Moreover, India also decided to procure 347 more T-90S main-battle tanks, 40 more Sukhoi-30MKI 'air dominance'fighters and 80 more Mi-17 medium-lift utility and assault helicopters from Russia.
That's not all. During the sixth meeting of the bilateral Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation on Wednesday, chaired by defence minister A K Antony and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov, Moscow also made a strong pitch for its MiG-35 to bag the IAF's $6.5 billion contract to buy 126 multi-role combat aircraft.

Well, the Russians will have to face stiff competition in this contract from the Americans (F-16 and F/A-18), French (Rafale), Swedes (JAS-39 Gripen) and the European Consortium, which makes Typhoon.

But on other fronts, it's good news for Russia, desperate to maintain its numero uno status among defence suppliers to India, which in turn is looking to spend over $ 30 billion in the 11th Plan (2007-2012).

Russia, of course, is particularly keen to get Indian funding for its Sukhoi-led consortium's G-5 fighter project, designated as PAK-FA and touted to be a rival to the American F-35 Lighting-II Joint Strike Fighter project.

'We are developing the G-5 fighter for the last three years. It will be airborne in 2009. Some time ago, India showed interest in joining this project.

India has now informed us that a final choice has been made. We can now open up contractual work for Indian accession to the project,'said Ivanov.

As reported earlier by TOI, India has finalised plans to acquire G-5 fighters, with a lethal mix of stealth, beyond-visual range combat capabilities, reduced radar tracking signature, super-manoeuvrability and supersonic cruising ability.

While Sukhoi-30MKIs in IAF's combat fleet can be placed a little over fourth-generation, the only operational G-5 fighter in the world at present is the new American F/A-22 Raptor, which comes at $258 million apiece.

An important step during Wednesday's meeting was the decision to establish a Joint Working Group, which will meet before March, to work out the specifications for the next-generation of the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

'The present BrahMos flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach (almost three times the speed of sound), which no other cruise missile in the world does at present.

The new BrahMos will have a speed between 5 to 7 Mach. This will be important to maintain our superiority in this arena in the next decade,'said a top official.

Citing BrahMos as a 'successful joint venture', both Antony and Ivanov said the defence ties between India and Russia were no longer restricted to 'a simple buyer-seller'relationship but had transformed into one which revolved around joint R&D and development projects.

As for the MTA, Antony said, 'We are now looking forward towards joint development and production of MTA for the use of the Indian and Russian air forces, as well as commercial sales to other countries.''