(MENAFN- KNN India)
New Delhi, Jul 10 (KNN) In a significant development for Indo-Russian defence cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to address longstanding concerns over delays in the supply of spare parts for Russian-origin military equipment used by India.
The agreement, reached during the 22nd India-Russia annual summit, aims to establish joint production facilities in India for manufacturing critical spare parts and components.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra revealed that Prime Minister Modi raised the issue of supply delays during his talks with President Putin.
The two leaders explored various aspects of the defence relationship between their nations, with a particular focus on expediting the delivery of spare parts through joint venture partnerships in India.
The move is seen as a response to India's growing concerns over prolonged delays in receiving spare parts for its extensive inventory of Russian-made military platforms.
These delays have been a source of worry for New Delhi, potentially affecting the operational readiness of its armed forces.
A joint statement issued after the summit highlighted the agreement to "encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for the maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment under the Make-in-India programme through the transfer of technology."
This initiative aligns with India's push for greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing and its "Make in India" policy.
The statement also mentioned the possibility of setting up joint ventures to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces, with the potential for exports to friendly third countries, subject to approval from both sides.
To facilitate this cooperation, a new Working Group on Technological Cooperation will be established, with its provisions to be discussed at the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation.
Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the momentum of joint military cooperation activities and expanding military delegation exchanges.
The partnership is evolving to focus on joint research and development, co-development, and joint production of advanced defence technology and systems.
(KNN Bureau)
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