Click to play videoNew Delhi: It's a very public rap on the knuckles for India's military leadership. Defence Minister AK Antony has distanced the Government from Naval Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta's suggestion that India reassess its defence ties with Russia.
“The relationship with Russia is a time-tested one. Problems will be overcome,” Antony said.
It's rare for the Government and the military to be talking publicly in different voices. But with Mehta's outburst, the Indian military's unease with Russian equipment is out in the open. He virtually suggested that the Russian demand for a $1.2 billion price hike for the aircraft carrier Gorshkov was blackmail.
“I don’t think there is any question of taking any advantage. If that is the case then even we can put our foot down,” Mehta
There may be good reasons for the military's patience with Russian equipment to be wearing thin. The MiG albatross is legendary. The Klub cruise missile, intended to be the primary strike weapon for India's submarine fleet has failed.
The modernisation programme for the Il-38 maritime reconnaissance aircraft is in a mess. Even the showpiece Talwar class stealth frigates reported problems with a key missile system. The impatience is also being fuelled by Western options.
“Improvement in relations with the US is not at the cost of old friends,” Antony confirmed.
The Government's hands seem tied both by realpolitik and dependence as more than 70 per cent of Indian weaponry is Russian. But, despite current problems, India recently signed deals for futuristic fighter and transport aircraft with Russia.
But it's clear that the earlier warmth has given way to hard-nosed commerce. A pointer to this is Russian engines being made available to Pakistan for its latest jet fighter, the JF-17.
(With inputs from Priyanka Gupta)
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