Russia's Rosoboronexport expecting to continue cooperation with India in air defense systems - company head
MOSCOW. May 22 (Interfax) - Rosoboronexport is expecting to continue cooperation with India in air defense systems, Rosoboronexport head Alexander Mikheyev said.
"T-90 and T-72 tanks, BMP-2 infantry vehicles and Mango and Invar ammunition are made in India. Production of AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles has begun at a plant in Korwa to be fully localized eventually. There are joint projects with the Indian Navy, and we are expecting cooperation in the field of air defense," Mikheyev said in an interview with the Rosoboronexport press service on the 70th anniversary of the Russian military-technical cooperation system.
"We have a long-term project with HAL corporation on licensed production of the most common aircraft of the Indian Air Force, Sukhoi Su-20MKI, and we are waiting for a decision to manufacture Kamov Ka-226T helicopters at a joint venture," he said.
Contracts for the delivery of S-400 systems and frigates of Project 11356 to India are being implemented smoothly, Mikheyev told Interfax in February. "Rosoboronexport fulfills every current contractual obligation to the Indian side consistent with the bilateral agreements," Mikheyev said at the Aero India 2023 exhibition, in response to a question about the delivery of S-400 air defense missile systems.
The contract for delivery of Project 11356 frigates to India is being fulfilled on schedule, he said.
"The contract fulfillment has been on schedule. I have no doubt that, if necessary, the Indian side will announce a change in the composition of its Navy," Mikheyev said.
According to official reports, a contract for the delivery of Almaz-Antey's S-400 air defense missile systems to India was signed on the sidelines of a Russian-Indian summit in early October 2018. India will procure five regimental sets of S-400 systems under the $5.43-billion contract.
The start of S-400 supplies to India was reported in November 2021. All systems are due to be supplied by the end of 2024.