Russian experts deny losing Indian arms tender

[arp2041]

Media reports that India refused to buy Russian aircraft labelled as “information war”.

Mi-26T cargo helicopter.

Recently, several Indian publications reported that Moscow had lost tenders for heavy combat and transport helicopters and planes. Rosoboronexport dismisses this information saying that the results of both tenders have not been announced yet.

Information about Russia allegedly having lost the tenders appeared in the Indian press in early-November. The reason mentioned was that Russian aircraft did not meet New Delhi’s requirements. The Russian defence company declared that both the updated version of the MI-26 transport helicopter (MI26T2) and the modernised air refueller Ilyushin-78 (Ilyushin-78MK) fully met India’s technological requirements. Rosoboronexport emphasised that the information about US and European aircraft winning the tender was not true.


This is not the first case of such misinformation, military observer Viktor Baranets tells The Voice of Russia. He says that rumours are usually spread exactly when Russia stands a good chance of winning tenders. “I can’t remember a single time in the countries where we sell weapons when deals with Russia were not preceded by misrepresentations or just blatant lies,” Baranets says. “Sales of weapons are always accompanied by information wars. Rumours are usually run by those who would like to sow the seeds of discord between Russia and India or those who are risking the loss of their own contracts.”

Baranets adds: “Russia is the second largest exporter of weapons in the world after the US. We have managed to preserve this position in spite of the economic crisis and the growing competition on the part of Beijing. New Delhi is Moscow’s main partner in this sphere. Over a quarter of Russian export of weapons falls on India. In addition, there are some joint projects. There are certain contradictions, of course, but they are solved on the partnership basis.”

70 percent of the Indian Army’s tanks are of Russian origin and that the tanks have been tested in all temperatures, according to Baranets. “Where US Abrams tanks started ‘suffocating’ on the second kilometre Russian ones completed shooting successfully and accomplished a long march at a temperature of plus 50 degrees Celsius,” Baranets says. “US experts themselves admit that Russian planes and helicopters excel American ones in some military components.”

Baranets admits that there were minor glitches in the defence relationship between the countries. “Speaking frankly, Indians have certain complaints, for example, about the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier but the main thing is that we enjoy mutual understanding and India continues buying our weapons.”

Naturally, this stable situation does not make Washington happy, political scientist Vladimir Evseyev believes. And India is playing on contradictions so as to obtain the best deal and frequently declares the need for diversifying the deliveries, he says.

Evseyev says: “We have long-term contracts and India means to continue cooperation with Russia in the field of shipbuilding. However, the US defence and industrial complex is interested in taking over these contracts. It is possible that some pressure is exerted on India with the use of both political levers, including the course of building strategic partnership, and the fact that Russia is expanding its contacts with Pakistan.”

Evseyev speaks of another “information scandal” regarding deliveries of Russian military equipment. “Some media reported the failure of a multi-billion contract which Moscow had signed with Baghdad. The allegation was that the contract had been cancelled due to suspicions of corruption,” he said. “Later, the Iraqi authorities announced that the problem sprang up due to some internal difficulties, such as procrastination on the part of Iraq. Now an investigation is being carried out there but it will not affect the fulfilment of the contract.”

Russian experts deny losing Indian arms tender | Russia & India Report

 

[Sergi]

Nice article surprisingly no comments.

Important point : Russians knew and accept that Indians do have complaints. And I hope they are taking proper measures to solve them and would try NOT to repeat them.

I agree with the fellow. I think Mi-26 will win and NOT the Chinook. But MOD should order 10/12 Chinooks for our SF

- India frequently declare to diversify to obtain BEST DEAL ??? So what next on plate ???

 

[anant_s]

There is no doubt about the fact that Russia will remain leader in supply of advanced Dual use/Restircted use technologies in near future. However fast changing geo-politics and emergence of US as major player in this area has Russia getting worried. And this is true not just in field of defence but also in Nuclear Sector, where US may get the largest share of pie.
Although not official yet, loss of Helios tender should get mandarins in Kremlin thinking.

 

[selvan33]

hey guys i read ch 47 won the heavy cargo heli tender few months back.

Boeing

 

[Abingdonboy]

They can deny all they like, it is pretty much a done deal. But let's wait until the Russians concede.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Always russia will be our strategic partner . then israel.
usa have more to do gain trust which was last seen in a simple Javelin deal..

 

[sancho]

They can deny all they like, it is pretty much a done deal. But let's wait until the Russians concede.

Isn't the Rafale the best example that a competition is only over when an official statement was made? There were numerous of allegiations via the media and even today Germans, Brits and Russian think they still have a chance, so don't give too much on unnamed media reports and wait for official sources.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Isn't the Rafale the best example that a competition is only over when an official statement was made? There were numerous of allegiations via the media and even today Germans, Brits and Russian think they still have a chance, so don't give too much on unnamed media reports and wait for official sources.

You're absolutely right- wasn't the Rafale out of contention in the MMRCA competition at some point according to certain reports?!! However wrt the Heavy lift and AAR deal I have it on good authority the Russians have lost both. The official announcement should soon confirm this.

 

[Raje amar]

Russia need to learn a lot of things when it comes to doing business from US & The Europian countries.
they never delays, honors each & every commitment, not cost escalations in the middle.
otherwise they will loose Indian market for their wepons some day.