Moscow: An Indo-Russian joint venture has been registered in India to produce Kamov military helicopters under a billion-dollar agreement, and work is underway to co-produce them, a senior Russian defense official said.
The joint venture was registered in May, said Victor Nikolayevich Kladov, director of the Department of International Cooperation and Regional Policy, Rostec State Corp, the Paraguayan organization of 700 high-tech military and civilian enterprises established in 2007.
In October last year, India and Russia finalized an extensive joint venture agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and two Russian defense majors. India is buying Kamov helicopters to replace the old Cheetah and Cheetah helicopters.
Six Kamov-226T helicopters will be supplied to India under conditions of flight, while 140 will be manufactured in India under a USD 1 billion agreement signed in 2015.
“We are very pleased to know that the joint venture has finally been registered by the Government of India in May,” Kladov told reporters here before the MAKS-2017 air show that began today in the Russian city of Zhukovsky near Moscow . The exhibition will continue until July 23.
“Everything will be in the hands of the joint venture. Now the initiative is all going to this joint venture,” Kladov said.
“It is registered in India because it is judicially in India. It was approved by the Russian Government in April and after being approved by the Russian government, it was registered in India,” said the senior Rostec official.
The agreement for Kamov helicopters was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia in December 2015. In October last year, Russian helicopters, Rosoboronexport and HAL Corp of India had completed the joint venture formalities to locate The production of Ka-226Ts and deliver them to the Indian market.
On supplying the S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems to India, Kladov said: “We are already talking.”
“There is a G to G (government to government) agreement on this issue and the parties are in the middle of negotiations,” he said.
Asked about Sukhoi Su-30MKI improvement, Kladov said the Indian government “is evaluating it.”
“This issue, as far as I know, was raised between President Vladimir Putin and esteemed Prime Minister Modi in St. Petersburg last month.” The Indian prime minister reiterated once again that the Indian side needs time to evaluate its development strategy and How to spend money, “Kladov said.
“We are offering a package to modernize the Su-30 aircraft,” he said. “It will bring new capabilities, it will be very close to the fifth generation of aircraft in capabilities, it is a profound modernization, everything must be changed engine, radar, etc.”
Kladov said it is up to India whether he wants to pick up the entire package or opt for selective modernization.
“The Indian Air Force has to evaluate its strategy and then make a decision,” he said.
According to reports that the Indian Air Force has been planning to order more Mi-17V-5 helicopter for a long time, he said: “We are waiting for an invitation to negotiate. Of times due to budgetary complications or whatever, but we expect this to happen later this year. ”
Speaking of MAKS ’13th air show, Kladov said it was a “great show”.
About 800 companies participate in Russia and 180 companies from 37 countries around the world.
There were 10 national pavilions, he said, adding that Indian firms such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Larsen and Toubro and many others were participating in the event.
“Let’s talk more about our joint production of Ka-226 helicopters and a number of other mutual defense projects,” he said about India’s participation in the air show.
When asked if any project with India he wants to highlight, Kladov said they are “well known”.
Rostec Corporation, one of the main organizers of MAKS-2017, will present the latest Russian developments in the space industry, as well as in aircraft, helicopter and weapons engineering.
“We intend to conclude an agreement with the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) on the supply of new engines for the Il-114-300 and to sign a memorandum With Chinese partners for the creation of a Russian engine for large capacity vehicles, based on United Engine Corporation (UEC), “said Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec.
“During the negotiations with our foreign partners, we will focus on the after-sales service of aviation equipment and the construction of And service centers, “said Chemezov. Asked if Western sanctions against Russia would hinder the air show, Kladov said they will not affect him as,” Politics is politics and business is business. “
