India and Russian Defence cooperation advancing to joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems

Rajesh Uppal May 21, 2021 Geopolitics, Industry, Military Comments Off on India and Russian Defence cooperation advancing to joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems 670 Views

Indo-Russian relationship have stood the test of time established since Indian independence . Soviet Union had a cardinal role in setting the foundations of Indian industrial base. Eight of India’s 16 heavy industry in the period 1956-61 were built with Soviet help.In 1971 the two countries signed the Treaty of Peace, Friendships and Co-operation that stands till date in its revised version. In 2000 dawned the era of strategic partnership between the two nations that saw close coordination the areas of international peace and security and resolution of global and regional issues. Later in 2000 two very important institutional dialogue mechanisms were set up. These were Indo-Russia Inter Governmental Commission or IRIGC for short. IRIGC had two platforms; IRIGC –TEC dealing with technological and cultural Co-operation and IRIGC-MTC dealing with military technical cooperation. Bilateral cooperation expanded to areas of oil exploration, solar energy, gas and others.

Defence has been a solid platform of mutual support and cooperation in the Indo-Russia relations. Many different types of weapon and support systems arrived in India from USSR from early 60s to late 80s on Inter Government agreements. Russia is a major supplier of defence equipment to the India armed forces, with at least 60% of their arms inventory of Russian origin. Pursued over many decades at the Inter-Governmental level and latter through the IRIGC route, the USSR/Russian footprint in our defence inventory has grown over time. Starting with MiGs to Sukhois, to kiloclass submarines, Talwar class frigates, T series of tanks ( T 72, T 90), multi barrel rocket launchers and almost 76%of all inventory of ground based AD weapon systems ( schilka, Tunguska gun/missiles, Igla MANPAD, SAMs – Strela, OSA, Kvadrat, Pechora,) and Smerch rockets. BrahMos has been a success story. More recent joint ventures include Kamov helicopters and the fifth generation fighter aircraft.

India has ordered from Russia a total of USD 14.5 billion worth of weapons and other military equipment, according to a senior Russian defence official. “Last year and today saw the emergence of a tremendous portfolio of contracts in contrast to all previous years, USD 14.5 billion. This is an impressive figure, it’s a real breakthrough,” the chief of the federal service for military-technical cooperation, Dmitry Shugayev, said in August 2019.

India is planning to purchase 33 fighter jets from Russia amid ongoing border tensions with China. Under the proposed government-to-government deal, Russia will supply 21 MiG 29 fighter jets and 12 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft to Indian Air Force (IAF). The deal is estimated to cost Rs60bn ($787.6m), reported ANI. According to a WION news report, Russia will assess the feasibility of delivering the jets in the shortest possible timeframe. Currently, Russia is also working with the IAF to support the modernisation of MiG 29 fighters. The upgrades will improve the combat capabilities of MiG-29 fighters, as well as enable the aircraft to integrate new weapons and technologies. The modernisation is expected to increase the service life of MiG 29 fighters by up to 40 years. On the other hand, the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft is the only fighter in IAF arsenal that can fire BrahMos supersonic missiles.

Now India-Russia military technical cooperation is evolving from a simple buyer – seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems. BrahMos Missile System, Joint design and development of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, as well as the licensed production in India of SU-30 aircraft and T-90 tanks, are examples of such flagship cooperation. The two countries also hold exchanges and training exercises between their armed forces annually.

Addressing the media jointly with Putin after the talks, Modi said the relations between India and Russia have been unwavering, based on “mutual love, respect and strong trust“. “From culture to security, our relations have been at par… We speak in one language,” he added. He said the two leaders had decided to speed up the bilateral cooperation in all fields, for which an ‘Action Plan’ has been devised. During the Recent Visit of PM Modi to Russia, India and Russia signed the much-awaited agreement on setting up of two more units of a nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu and decided to give a “new direction” to the defence cooperation between the two “great powers“.

The level of cooperation between India and Russia in military technology transfer is ‘unprecedented’ and Moscow is ready to develop military and technical cooperation with Delhi on a long-term basis, Russia’s Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said in Dec 2018. “The intensity and the depth of military and technical cooperation speak about the unprecedented level of trust between our countries,” Shoigu said at a meeting with his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Russian defense minister said he was confident that “no other state cooperates with India in the sphere of the transfer of armament and military hardware production technologies as close as Russia.” “Our cooperation spreads to the most sensitive spheres,” Shoigu said. As an example, Russia’s defense chief cited the contracts for the delivery of S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems and Project 11356 frigates signed with India despite external pressure.

As tensions between China and India over Ladakh standoff , Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh used a visit to Moscow to urge Russia — the country’s biggest weapons supplier — to speed up delivery of its powerful S-400 Triumph air defence missile system, according to Indian media reports. Combined with India’s aircraft designed for high-altitude combat, the defence system could pose a threat to China’s military, according to observers.

However, Russia has not once comment on the Ladakh standoff, it now transpires that it won’t in the future either. It has created setback for Indian leadership who had hoped that Russia may use it’s use its good offices with China to put some some pressure on China. However continuing US sanctions on Russia as well as its determination to paint Putin as the bad guy is driving Moscow into Beijing’s arms. Since sanctions began to bite, and sharp decline in global oil and natural gas prices, Putin has reached out to China to fill the investment gap, drawing up a $400bn gas supply deal, a potential $230bn rail link, fighter jet sales and deals to bring China’s UnionPay payment system to Russia’s banks. Since then, Russia and china have developed all-round strategic partnership, which covered political, economic, security and diplomatic issues. Russia, according to Putin’s 23 October 2020 statement, “could enter into a military alliance with China”.

It will not choose between India and China because it doesn’t want to, according to head of the Carnegie Moscow Center Dmitri Trenin, Russia looks at the world differently, Trenin added, compared to Delhi or Washington DC or Beijing, pointing out that it was in Moscow’s interest to encourage a multipolar world in which several powerful axes, besides the US, existed.

Recently Amid China threat the military and strategic cooperation has been increasing and US already declaring India as a major defence partner of the United States. During the Trump administration, the US has become the second-largest arms supplier to India, growing from virtually no sales a decade ago to more than $20 billion today. They began a new generation of military and security cooperation by signing Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), a legal framework that enables the transfer of critical, secure and encrypted communications between weapon platforms to facilitate “interoperability”.

However, India’s concern that growing US India cooperation may affect it’s relations with Russsia.There has being growing Russia- pakistan relations.Russia, has signed an agreement with Pakistan for naval cooperation in July 2018, which is causing concern in strategic circles in New Delhi. The MoU between the two countries, which were once considered bitter rivals, was inked during the visit of Pakistan Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat to the Russian Federation. The MoU comes close on the heels an accord between the two countries in April to enhance cooperation in the training of armed forces personnel in the naval field and conduct of wide range of joint military exercises. Pakistan has lately been turning towards Russia in terms of military support after US President Donald Trump halted the aid to the country in his new year’s tweet.

Putin clearly stated that Russian relations with India were ‘based on trust’ and ties with other countries would ‘not dilute’ ties with one of its ‘closest friends’. He went on to say that Russia’s military ties with Pakistan were ‘not tight’. He also emphatically supported India’s fight against terrorism, “no matter where the threat comes, it is unacceptable.” India had been concerned with growing military ties of Russia with China and Pakistan.

Russia said in Dec 2020 that India should not be worried about its relationship with Pakistan but noted that Moscow is committed to developing ties with Islamabad as it is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Deputy Chief of the Russian mission Roman Babushkin said, “Russia is very cautious when it comes to respecting the sensitivities. But at the same time we regard our relationship with Pakistan as independent in nature and we also have bilateral trade and economic agenda. We are quite committed to developing this relationship further including from the point of view of Pakistan being a partner country in the framework of the SCO.”

Babushkin said the military drills with Pakistan were part of the counter-terror framework and such collaborations including experience sharing and capacity building is natural for all the SCO member states. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an eight-nation bloc which is largely dominated by Russia and China, and is being increasingly seen as a counterweight to NATO. India and Pakistan became permanent members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2017.

India Russia Defence Collaboration

Russia has been a longstanding time-tested partner of India. Defence relations between India and the Russian Federation have a historical perspective. The Soviet Union was an important supplier of defence equipment for several decades, and that relationship was inherited by Russia after the break-up of the Soviet Union. In 1997, Russia and India signed a ten-year agreement for further military-technical cooperation. That agreement encompassed a wide range of activities, including the purchase of completed weaponry, joint development and production, and joint marketing of armaments and military technologies.

Russia is a major supplier of defence equipment to the India armed forces, with at least 60% of their arms inventory of Russian origin. India remains the second largest market for the Russian defence industry, and the largest dollar for-dollar importer of Russian defence products worldwide. India is all set to order a fresh batch of 42 Sukhoi fighter aircraft from Russia leading to over 222 Sukhois in its fleet by 2020. This step is seen to placate Russia which is sour after being kept out of ongoing MMRCA deal evaluation process. Indian armed forces include the delivery of the INS Vikramaditya, the joint development of the BrahMos missile system, and the extensive Indian employment of T-90 tanks.

India and Russia, in March 2019 , signed a $3.3 billion deal for leasing a third nuclear-powered attack submarine- Akula Class- in New Delhi. Defence sources confirmed to Sputnik that the two countries have signed the inter-governmental agreement (IGA) for the Akula class submarine which is likely to be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2025. One of the several incomplete Soviet-era Akula hulls mothballed at the Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk would undergo a deep refit and rebuild, to be fitted with Indian sensors, operation room electronics, and communication equipment before being delivered to India. At present, the Indian Navy has a total of 13 conventional submarines plus one domestically-produced Arihant-class nuclear submarine and one Akula-class submarine on lease from Russia.

The submarine will be called Chakra-3 and will replace Chakra-2, whose 10 years lease is set to expire by 2022. However, the lease of Chakra-2 is expected to be extended for another five years to have sufficient time for the Chakra-3 to come on board. It is signed days after the two countries also opened a facility to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian infantry in Amethi of Uttar Pradesh.

India and Russia on November 2018 signed a $500 million deal for construction of two warships in Goa for the Indian Navy under the technology transfer model, officials said. They said the agreement for the project was signed between defence PSU Goa Shipyard (GSL) and Russia’s state-run defence major Rosoboronexport under the government-to-government framework for defence cooperation. Under the deal, Russia will provide design, technology and some materials to GSL for construction of the ships in India.

In a major boost to their military ties, India and Russia are for the first time planning to hold large-scale military exercises involving the three armed services armies, navies and air forces, under Indra bilateral drills. The armies and navies of India and Russia have been regularly holding the Indra joint exercises. The air forces of the countries held joint exercises in 2014.

India and Russia agreed to extend bilateral cooperation on defence joint-venture (JV) manufacturing projects on December 2018 at the 18th meeting of the India-Russia Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC). The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Russian counterpart General Sergei Shoigu. With regards to the framework of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’, the minister discussed a wide range of issues related to defence equipment, industry and technological engagement between India and Russia. Intensive discussions were held on joint manufacturing projects, including the Kamov-226T helicopters, naval frigates and projects related to land systems. The two countries also agreed to take forward inter-governmental arrangements for facilitating joint manufacturing of spares for Russian origin equipment in India, under the Make in India’ initiative.

In a major breakthrough in Indo-Russian defence ties, India will start manufacturing spare parts and components for the Russian military equipment, as the two strategic partners tried to transform their existing buyer-seller relationship into one of collaboration. This was agreed during wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here in the Far East Russian port city. During the conference a total of 14 MoUs were exchanged between the Russian OEMs and the Indian companies. The first ‘Request for Proposal’ for manufacturing of parts in India under the provision of IGA was also handed over by the Indian Navy to the identified Indian industry. The sides acknowledged that this would pave way for more cases and contracts for joint manufacturing of spares parts, in the days ahead.

The 5th round of India-Russia Military Industrial Conference (IRMIC) was conducted on 6th February 2020 on the sidelines of Defexpo-2020 at Lucknow. The conference was co-chaired by Dr. Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary from the Indian Side and Mr. Oleg Ryazantsev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russian Federation.

According to a joint statement, the two countries expressed their commitment to upgrading their defense cooperation, including by fostering joint development and production of military equipment, components and spare parts, improve the after-sales service system. Both countries agreed to take forward ongoing engagement to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for maintenance of Russian origin Arms and defence equipment under the Make-in-India programme through transfer of technology and setting up of joint ventures.

India, Russia sign deal for S-400 air defence systems

India and Russia inked a much anticipated $5.5 billion defense deal for the procurement of five regiments of Russian-made Almaz-Antei S-400 Triumf air defense systems (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) during a ceremony witnessed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 5, 2018. The contract was signed after the conclusion of talks between the Indian prime minister and Russian president during the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit held in New Delhi.

The standard S-400 battery consists of four transporter erector launchers (TELs) with four launch tubes per TEL, in addition to target acquisition and engagement (fire control) radar systems and a command post. In the Russian military, two batteries make up a S-400 battalion (also known as a S-400 division), whereas a S-400 regiment consists of two battalions.

The S-400s are expected to be fully integrated with the Indian Air Force’s IACCS (integrated air command and control system), an automated command and control system for air defense, which integrates the service’s air and ground-based air sensors and weapons systems.

The conclusion of the S-400 agreement has complicated New Delhi’s deepening strategic relations with Washington, given the latter’s threat to impose economic sanctions on countries engaging in “significant transactions” (defined as above $15 million) with the Russian defense industry under U.S. legislation known as the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). CAATSA, which came into effect in January 2018, is aimed at punishing Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 presidential elections and mandates the imposition of economic sanctions on countries importing Russian military hardware. However, the Trump administration has been given authority under this this year’s U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to waive sanctions in certain circumstances pertaining to Russian legacy systems that costs less than $15 million.

Russia’s T-90S tanks for deployment on its Western Borders

India has begun talks with Russia for a multi-million dollar deal to upgrade the army’s nearly 1,000 T-90 tanks, under which the Russian firms will transfer the tank technology to Indian partners in a bid to shake off the armed forces’ over-dependence on Russian supplies, according to reports

The Indian Army plans to buy 464 advanced T-90 battle tanks from Russia for deployment on its western borders with Pakistan. The Rs 13,448-crore contract will include a Make-in-India element for integration at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi near Chennai. India has already inducted 18 regiments of T-90 tanks which are deployed in Rajasthan and Punjab against on the Pakistan front. India has about 850 T-90 tanks currently and plans to induct 1,657 by the year 2020.

INS Vikramaditya

The INS Vikramaditya has been called a black stain on the otherwise snow-white sheet of the two countries’ positive defence technology relationship. The project was a sound idea, but the execution has left much to be desired. Purchased by the Indian Navy from Russia in 2013, this Kiev-class aircraft carrier project was plagued by overspending and systems integration failures. The Vikramaditya should have been delivered three years ago, but it only began sea trials in the first week of June 2012. Its cost has meanwhile risen threefold to about $3 billion.

While the carrier has since entered service, it ultimately prompted the initiation of an indigenously built carrier project, the Vikrant, which is likely to be a joint venture with the US rather than Russia, indicating a potential souring of the two BRICS countries’ relationship.

Vikramaditya, the 44,500 tonnes mega structure has an overall length of about 284 meters and a maximum beam of about 60 meters, stretching as much as three football fields put together. The 06 turbo alternators and 06 diesel alternators onboard generate a total electricity of 18 megawatts to power various equipment of the ship, enough to cater to the lighting requirement of a mini city. An extensive revamp of sensors including fitment of Long range Air Surveillance Radars, Advanced Electronic Warfare Suite makes the ship capable of maintaining a surveillance bubble of over 500 kms around the ship.

The ship is equipped with state of the art launch and recovery systems along with aids to enable smooth and efficient operation of ship borne aircraft. Major systems include the LUNA Landing system for MiGs, DAPS Landing system for Sea Harriers and Flight deck lighting systems

The ship has the ability to carry over 30 aircraft comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters. The MiG 29K swing role fighter is the main offensive platform and provides a quantum jump for the Indian Navy’s maritime strike capability. These fourth generation air superiority fighters provide a significant fillip for the Indian Navy with a range of over 700 nm (extendable to over 1,900 nm with inflight refueling) and an array of weapons including anti-ship missiles, Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missiles, guided bombs and rockets. With her complete stock of provisions, she is capable of sustaining herself at sea for a period of about 45 days. With a capacity of over 8,000 tonnes of LSHSD, she is capable of operations up to a range of over 7,000 nautical miles or 13000 kms.

The heart of the operational network that infuses life into the combat systems onboard the ship is the Computer aided Action Information Organisation (CAIO) system, LESORUB-E. LESORUB has the capability to gather data from ship’s sensors and data links and to process, collate and assemble comprehensive tactical pictures. Vikramaditya also boasts of a very modern communication complex, CCS MK II, to meet her external communication requirement. Installation of Link II tactical data system allows her to be fully integrated with the Indian Navy’s network centric operations..

Russian rotorcraft

Russia and India are also cooperation is also continuing in Helicopters. About 400 Ka-226T multi-mission helicopters to be license-built in a JV between Hindustan Aeronautics and Russian Helicopters as a replacement for outdated French models. The Ka-226T underwent testing in India as part of the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopter (RSH) acquisition programme, where this helicopter out-performed its Western counterparts during flights in India’s hot conditions and mountainous areas.

The Ka-226T is a light, twin-engine multi-role helicopter offered by Russian Helicopters, for military and civilian missions. The military version of Ka-226T is designed for operation in hard-to-reach upland conditions as well as hot and cold climates. The Ka-226T is produced by Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, a part of Russian Helicopters, and is currently in service with the Russian Air Force. It performs surveillance, reconnaissance, search and rescue (SAR), targeting, and transportation of cargo and troops.

The helicopter can fly at a maximum speed of 250km/h and cruise speed of 220km/h. It has a maximum flight range of 600km with main fuel tanks. The operational and hover (OGE) ceilings of the helicopter are 5,700m and 4,100m respectively and the maximum rate of climb is 10m/s.

Joint development of the BrahMos missile system

The BrahMos is a ramjet powered supersonic cruise missile developed in a joint venture between India and Russia. It is the world’s fastest operational cruise missile. Cooperation between the Indian Defense Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s Mashinostroyeniye Company began in 1998, with the first successful test of the BrahMos missile conducted in 2001. Since then, the missile has been employed aboard at least eight warships of the Indian Navy, and by three regiments of the Indian Army. BrahMos is in service with all the three services — the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy.

In April 2017, the Indian Navy successfully carried out the first-ever test of a supersonic land-attack cruise missile (LACM). A “land attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was fired for the first time from an Indian Navy’s stealth frigate, off the eastern coast, at a land target,” an unnamed Indian Ministry of Defense source noted. To date, the only variants of the BrahMos tested by the Indian Navy were the anti-ship variants.

The missiles are capable of Mach 2.8 flight. The variant tested on Friday has a range of 290 kilometers, but India is working toward longer-range variants with ranges of up to potentially 800 kilometers. India is developing a second generation BrahMos-II missile is collaboration with Russia based on the scramjet technology.The BrahMos-II is expected to have a range of 600 km. The missile is expected to be ready for testing by 2020.

Russia on Monday indicated that its strategic partnership with China would not come in the way of the export of BrahMos missiles to other countries, and also informed that New Delhi and Moscow are in touch with a dozen countries across the world for the export of the missile.

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft / Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)

This $35 billion project is designed to produce an aircraft analogous to the American F-22 Raptor. In 2007 Russia and India signed an agreement on joint development of fifth generation fighter FGFA (Fifth-Generation Fighting Aircraft), based on the Russian Sukhoi PAK FA (PAK FA). It is expected that the launch customer for the aircraft will be Indian Air Force, and later it would be delivered to third countries.

On 11 July 2016 it was reported that India’s talks with Russia on the joint development and creation of a fifth generation fighter (FGFA, Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) had resulted in an agreement for an equal investment of the parties in the amount of $ 4 billion at the stage of development work. This was reported by the newspaper Times of India citing Defense Ministry of India. According to the prepared project, India and Russia will invest $4 billion to develop prototypes of their test and establish the necessary infrastructure for the next six years. The total cost of production of 127 single-seat fighters in India is about $ 25 billion.”

To date, the stage of conceptual design was completed the FGFA, at a cost of $ 295 million, and the parties decided all the questions, and the Russian developers considered more than 40 modifications proposed by the Indian side. As the military expert, “Russia not only has met with technical and financial issues,” but also “allowed the Indian Air Force to acquire FGFA prototypes for flight testing now.” The Medium Combat Aircraft [MCA] was envisioned as a replacement for the British Jaguar and Mirage 2000 the IAF flies, which as of 2002 were to be phased out by 2015.

In December 2010, a further joint venture was announced between HAL and the Russian firm Ilyushin, to design and build a new mediumlift transport aircraft. Known as the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA; with a range of 2500 km and payload of 20 tonnes), this will be based on the existing design of the Ilyushin 214. This twin-turbofan aircraft is as yet still on the drawing board and its maiden flight is not expected before 2025.

India, Russia set up Rs 15 crore fund to boost partnership between sci-tech SMEs, start-ups

The Department of Science and Technology has launched the India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of the Russian Federation. The programme will connect Indian, and Russian science & technology (S&T) led SMEs and start-ups for joint R&D for technology development and for cross-country technology adaptation. The programme aims to fund joint development in cutting edge technologies in a large number of areas such as information technology, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, environment, aerospace, alternative technologies, new materials, bio-technology, drones and robotics.

Speaking at the launch on July 23, 2020 here, Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India said that India and Russia have a long-standing bilateral scientific cooperation. The launch of the India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme is another step towards strengthening the Science, Technology and Innovation ties between the two countries. This initiative is very timely, wherein we can leverage joint intellectual and financial resources to develop technologies that would provide the solutions for tomorrow. He wished the programme a huge success.

DB Venkatesh Varma, Indian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, said “India has one of the largest startup ecosystems in the world, the number of unicorns is testament to the tremendous talent the country possesses. S&T-led innovation and entrepreneurship are priorities of both countries and will be a key point on the agenda as President Putin visits India later this year. There is a history of scientific cooperation between the countries, and with this initiative; we take the next step of commercialization.”

Sergey Polyakov, General Director, Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), Russia said “We are extremely happy to launch the India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme. We are aware of the knowledge and expertise of India in the larger science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems and our extremely happy to partner with India on this programme. We hope the innovations and technologies supported through this programme will be help us face and overcome the challenges in this new normal.”

Over a period of two years, the Department of Science and Technology will fund up to INR 15 Crores to ten Indian SMEs/Start-ups and FASIE will provide similar funding to the Russian projects. The programme will provide access to partial public funding for jointly selected projects with the participation of at least one start-up/SME from India and one SME from Russia. The selected projects will be required to bear partial funding as well, either through own funds or alternate sources of funding. In addition to the financial support, the teams will also be supported through capacity building, mentorship and business development.

BRICS umbrella to increase India, Russia collaboration on artificial intelligence

First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank, Alexander Vedyakhin said, “R&D in Artificial Intelligence is gaining momentum in Russia and India as both countries aspire to gain leading positions in the global market. Close interaction within BRICS could give an additional impetus to future joint AI projects between Russia and India as the two countries share a time-tested strategic partnership. ”

Russian institute, NIO to conduct research in marine science

V.I. Il’Ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute (POI), Russia along with CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), Goa & CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI), Hyderabad have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Marine Sciences and Technology in Jan 2021.

The POI is the largest research institution in the Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences comprising of 31 research units equipped with modern scale devices. Whereas, CSIR-NIO and CSIR-NGRI, the constituent research laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are world renowned Institutes in the fields of Oceanography and Earth Sciences respectively.

This MoU will enable Indian and Russian scientists to enhance capacity and skill development in the field of marine sciences and technology, sharing knowledge and expertise in the field of sustainable development for national economic interests of both countries, research and development of technology focused on the geo-resources, spatial variation of geophysical fields, marine geology, paleogeography, environment and climate change, physical oceanography, biological oceanography, hydrochemistry, atmosphere, hydrosphere, development of oceanographic equipment, calibration and validation. This MoU will strengthen cooperation to combat ocean pollution and climate changes, organize scientific expeditions for the search, study and monitoring of ocean resources and environment based on approach of integrated methods for sampling of seabed sediments, rocks and minerals, and advanced geological/geophysical techniques.