Здравствуйте все. Вот текст из HT:07Dec2002 INDIA: Want N-sub? Buy our AJT, says Russia.
By Vishal Thapar.
The mysterious delay in the purchase of 66 Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) for the Indian Air Force (IAF), it now unravels, is, at least in part, due to the Russian insistence on an all-or-nothing package deal as a condition for the transfer of strategic military assets that India seeks.
The momentum to acquire the British Hawk AJT price negotiations for which were concluded almost a year ago - ground to a sudden halt earlier this year, despite some dogged hardsell by top British leaders. Russia has offered India two options the MiG Advanced Trainer (AT) and the Yak-130 both touted as new generation trainers.
"Yes, there has to be one package agreement," said Mikhail Dmitriev, Russia's deputy defence minister and chairman of the Committee for Military-Technical Cooperation - the Russian regulatory body for defence exports in an exclusive interview to Hindustan Times.
The Indian requirement for nuclear-powered submarines (reportedly of the Akula class) and the TU-22 long-range bomber-cum-reconnaissance aircraft is being leveraged by Russia and tied to a host of buys, including the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and the accompanying squadrons of ship-borne MiG-29K multi-role fighter aircraft and the AJTs.
"We wanted an initial agreement during President Putin's visit to New Delhi. But that there was not enough time. We now expect to conclude the package agreement before next summer," Dmitriev said.
In Parliament, Defence Minister George Fernandes has broadly indicated that price negotiations for the Hawk had concluded with British Aerospace, clearly suggesting a single-vendor situation. But last month he told the Rajya Sabha: "Various options for the acquisition of an AJT are under examination...No contract...has been finalised. It would not be possible to lay down a time limit for such a major procurement project."
The IAF has a high accident rate, and close to a fourth of the crashes are attributed to pilot inexperience, which is linked to the lack of an AJT..
The Indians have been unable to take a purchase decision for 20 years. Russia is promising India a three-year time-frame for the induction of the AJT into IAF. The development process of the Yak-130 is complete, that of MiG-AT is expected by 2003.
(c) The Hindustan Times Ltd.
