Press Statement

The exhibition held on February 5-9, 2020 in Lucknow was another landmark event in the advanced military and technical cooperation between Russia and India. It helped to continue bilateral mutually beneficial partnership successfully mainstreamed into joint development and production, including in the framework of Make in India programme and the Indian localization requirements.

Russia was the largest foreign exhibitor at the event presenting around 1,000 pieces of military hardware and models, including AU-220M automatic lightweight 57 mm weapon station, Club-T mobile missile system, 300-mm 9K515 multiple rocket launcher, Kalashnikov AK-200 series assault rifles, T-90MSMBT main battle tank, Alexandrit-E mine countermeasures ship, upgraded Mi-28NE and Mi-171SH helicopters, Amur-1650 diesel-electric submarine, Pantsir-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun/missile (SPAAGM) system, counter-drone systems, MKTG-500 mobile maintenance support system, Typhoon-K family vehicle, Ka-226T light utility helicopter, MiG-35 multi-functional front-line fighter.

Among major participating companies were Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation, Russian Helicopters, Techmash, Uralvagonzavod Corporation, United Engine Corporation (UEC), United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), Schwabe, Morinformsistema-Agat, Rubin Aviation Corporation, Remdiesel, Promtechnologia,    Automatika Concern, Proekt-Technika Corporation, NPO RusBITech Research and Production Association, GIRD Group and Training Systems.

On the sidelines, the 5th Russia-India Military Industrial Conference co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Mr Oleg Ryazantsev and Defence Secretary Mr Ajay Kumar was held. Over the years, the forum proved its critical importance helping to prioritize areas and specific ways of cooperation.

During the Defexpo-2020, 14 MoUs were signed covering development and production of land, air and naval systems as well as innovative high-tech civilian products. Among them are agreements between Rosoboronexport and DRDO (for development of advanced pyrotechnic ignition systems), Rosoboronexport and HAL (for export of spares and services to friendly countries), Rosoboronexport and BHEL (for land systems), Russian Helicopters and Indo-Russian Helicopters Ltd. (for localization of Ka-226 helicopters in India).

Overall outcomes of the Defexpo-2020 are highly appreciated by both governments, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi specially referred the Russian-Indian defence partnership in his inaugural address.

We are about to cross USD 16 bn amount of deals. Both sides are committed to their timely and successful implementation, including supply of the S-400 best in the world air defence systems by 2025, an early production of Kalashnikov AK-203 machine guns and Ka-226T multi-purpose helicopters under relevant joint ventures with maximum possible level of localization.

The Russian-Indian JV Brahmos time and again proves the ultimate success of our high-tech and sophisticated joint research and production. Scientific works are going on to further upgrade missiles precision, range and speed. It is a unique weapon, many even developed countries don’t possess it. Demand is huge in third countries, all options are on the table – in order to proceed we have to make sure that international law is respected and approval from both Russia and India is granted.

This year while going ahead with the above and after projects we expect prolongation of the ten-year programme in the area of military and technical cooperation for 2021-2030.

Looking forward to further elevate the level of our defence interaction based on deep mutual trust and understanding, which will remain one of the pillars of the Russian-Indian time-tested special and privileged strategic partnership.