Russians devoid of enthusiasm at Defence Expo
The enthusiasm, usually seen among arms exporters from Russia, is missing this time at the Defence Expo here with the biggest weapon suppliers to India for decades keeping a low profile at the five-day show.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: The enthusiasm, usually seen among arms exporters from Russia, is missing this time at the Defence Expo here with the biggest weapon suppliers to India for decades keeping a low profile at the five-day show.
Unlike Americans, French and British defence companies, the Russians are a subdued lot making no presentation of weapons systems or platforms at the Expo.
The Russians last year did a staggering $14.5 billion arms trade with India selling weapons from advanced fighters to main battle tanks and warships.
This time round, they have only 24 exhibitors and the push and the drive they are known for are missing.
This silence comes in the backdrop of apparent acrimony between Moscow and New Delhi over delays in supply of aircraft carrier Gorshkov, refusal on part of Russia to part with critical technology for T-90 tanks and flaws found in missiles onboard the upgraded kilo class submarines.
However, executives of Rosoboron, the umbrella Russian arms exporter, ruled out any chill in defence ties and claimed the deals with India had not got into rough weather.
"The Russian way of doing business is different from that of the West. The Russians do business at government to government level," Rosoboron official Commodore H S Kang told media.
He said there was no "chill" in military cooperation between the two countries and relations were "fine".
"The Indo-Russian military cooperation is half-a-century old and it is going forward without any hitch," he said.
Unlike Americans, French and British defence companies, the Russians are a subdued lot making no presentation of weapons systems or platforms at the Expo.
The Russians last year did a staggering $14.5 billion arms trade with India selling weapons from advanced fighters to main battle tanks and warships.
This time round, they have only 24 exhibitors and the push and the drive they are known for are missing.
This silence comes in the backdrop of apparent acrimony between Moscow and New Delhi over delays in supply of aircraft carrier Gorshkov, refusal on part of Russia to part with critical technology for T-90 tanks and flaws found in missiles onboard the upgraded kilo class submarines.
However, executives of Rosoboron, the umbrella Russian arms exporter, ruled out any chill in defence ties and claimed the deals with India had not got into rough weather.
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"The Russian way of doing business is different from that of the West. The Russians do business at government to government level," Rosoboron official Commodore H S Kang told media.
He said there was no "chill" in military cooperation between the two countries and relations were "fine".
"The Indo-Russian military cooperation is half-a-century old and it is going forward without any hitch," he said.
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