Russia-Pakistan Rapproachment

Hari Sud

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Re: Russia offers Mi-28NE, SA-22 & SA-17 to Pakistan

This Pakistani enthusiasm to buy Russian military hardware proves one important point I.e. Pakistan is not happy with Chinese copy of Russian and American hardware which is offered so cheap. They wish to have the original stuff.

There is nothing Russia plan to supply to Pakistan which India ever needed. In fact India either has built its own Akash missile or plan to buy more robust and much more heavily armed American attack helicopters.

There is one point Pakistanis may not aware, the Russians want payment in advance. Credit is good for a short while only. America for 50 years supplied it free and Chinese on the other hand were offering credit for much longer term, but hardware was third class copy.

What happens to F-16 spare supply or spares for newly acquired Palladin mounted artillery or other American supplied items to Pakistan is anybody's guess. US and Russian parts do not mix well. Although you can make them yourself but it would need a huge investment in infrastructure development, before the first locally made parts appear.

I do not believe that Russians are about to dump India. No they cannot even think of it, not even in their dreams. There is $4 billion a year supply chain from Russia to India. They cannot dump it. Surprisingly, the moment they dump it, india can make all its own parts. India will then be free from all contractual obligations and immediately copy parts and reverse engineer them. India has built internal capability to build parts for the Russian supplied fighters, tanks, destroyers etc. this they have learnt over last fifty years of association with Russian defence industry. The disadvantage of getting overtly friendly with penniless Pakistan are much greater for Russia. Who and how are they going to pay.

Some bad feelings between Russian and Indian defence supply chain surfaced when Russians demanded a huge cost overrun to refurbish the INS Vikramaditya. At $2.2 billion, it is still a steal. Chinese will never be able to finish the other aircraft carrier they bought concurrently from Russia. If they do, no fighter which Chinese have or would have will match the Russian supplied naval fighters on Vikramaditya.

There is something for India to learn.

1. There is a very little market for low grade, although very cheap Chinese goods. Even Pakistan wishes to have Russian real stuff instead of copies. Hence Indian media try and demonize less of China as a threat.

2. Too much anti Russian propaganda against Russian war material in Indian hands like T-90, Su -30MK1, etc. has to be vanished. It is comparable in performance and at half the price.

3. Work with the Russians deligently to get as much work as possible for PAK-FA. Ignore the western propaganda against it. They have been instigating IAF to raise one concern after other.

4. Let the Russians sell whatever india does not want, to Pakistan. In the process the US-Pakistan free pipeline will dry up. Hence no big advantage or disadvantage, as long as it bankrupt Pakistan.

5. Etc.
 

Poseidon

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IDEAS 2014: Pakistani defence minister says Russia ready to sell RD-93 engine directly to Islamabad.

http://www.janes.com/article/46580/ideas-2014-pakistani-defence-minister-says-russia-ready-to-sell-rd-93-engine-directly-to-islamabad
 

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