Defence Deals
Defence Minister Rajnath to begin 5-day visit to Mongolia, Japan on Monday
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a five-day visit to Mongolia and Japan beginning Monday with an aim to expand India's defence and security ties with the two countries. In Japan, Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will join their Japanese counterparts under the framework of '2+2' foreign and defence ministerial dialogue, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. Singh will visit Mongolia from September 5 to 7 while his tour of Japan will be from September 8-9. It is learnt that the '2+2' dialogue is planned for September 8. The dialogue is taking place over five months after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited India for the annual India-Japan summit. At the summit in New Delhi, Kishida announced an investment target of five trillion Yen (Rs 3,20,000 crore) in India over the next five years. In the 2+2 dialogue, the two sides are expected to deliberate on ways to further expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence and security .
 "Defence Minister Rajnath to begin 5-day visit to Mongolia, Japan on Monday")
UK-India defence deal runs parallel to FTA talks, includes work on jet tech
Three rounds of negotiations for what is being called a free trade agreement - actually an interim or limited treaty - have now concluded
 "UK-India defence deal runs parallel to FTA talks, includes work on jet tech")
India developed close ties with Russia as US wasn't ready then: US official
State Department Spokesperson Ned Price has acknowledged that India developed defence ties with Russia because the US was not ready for such a relationship.
 "India developed close ties with Russia as US wasn't ready then: US official")
 "Explained: India's arms import dependence")
What does the Ukraine crisis mean for India's defence procurement?
With the US, UK and the EU ratcheting up economic sanctions against Russia, India is faced with difficult choices. Let's explores the impact of the sanctions on India's defence deals with Russia
 "What does the Ukraine crisis mean for India's defence procurement?")
TMS Ep118: Portfolio rejig, India's defence deals, markets, SWIFT
Should you increase gold, real estate exposure? What does Ukraine crisis mean for India's defence? How did markets react to Ukraine-Russia conflict? What is the SWIFT payment system? All answers here
 "TMS Ep118: Portfolio rejig, India's defence deals, markets, SWIFT")
US, Japan hail stronger partnership, including 2 new defence deals
Seeking to deepen their defence cooperation, the United States and Japan will soon sign a new five-year agreement on sharing the cost of the American military presence in Japan, Antony Blinken said
 "US, Japan hail stronger partnership, including 2 new defence deals")
US Congress passes roughly $770 bn defense spending bill for FY2022
The US Senate voted to pass a roughly $770 billion defense spending bill for fiscal year 2022.
 "US Congress passes roughly $770 bn defense spending bill for FY2022")
Blinken says US ready to move forward with sale of F-35s, drones to UAE
A UAE official on Tuesday told Reuters that it had informed the US that it would suspend discussions to acquire F-35 fighter jets, part of a $23 bn deal that includes drones, other advanced munitions
 "Blinken says US ready to move forward with sale of F-35s, drones to UAE")
Australia chooses South Korea to ink largest-ever defence deal in Asia
In a move that can irk China, Australia on Monday chose South Korea for the largest-ever defence deal with the Asian country
 "Australia chooses South Korea to ink largest-ever defence deal in Asia")
Australia signs $717 million defence deal with South Korea's Hanwha
Under the terms of the deal, South Korean defence company Hanwha Corp will build 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles for Australia.
 "Australia signs $717 million defence deal with South Korea's Hanwha")
India, Russia ink four defence pacts; resolve to expand military ties
India and Russia on Monday inked an agreement for joint production of over six lakh AK-203 assault rifles at a manufacturing facility in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi besides firming up another pact on military cooperation for 10 years. The rifles will be manufactured for the Indian armed forces at a cost of around Rs 5000 crore. The agreements were signed at the 20th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC). The meeting, co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Gen Sergey Shoigu, also discussed ways to further boost strategic cooperation including ramping up of joint production of military equipment. The two sides also inked a pact on amending the agreement on cooperation in the field of manufacturing of the Kalashnikov series of small arms that was originally sealed in February 2019. Another agreement was signed on the protocol of the 20th IRIGC-M&MTC, officials said. The ..
 "India, Russia ink four defence pacts; resolve to expand military ties")
France, Greece sign defence deal; Athens to buy 3 warships
President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a defence and security strategic partnership in a joint news conference in Paris
 "France, Greece sign defence deal; Athens to buy 3 warships")
Tata, Airbus sign Rs 20,000-cr contract to manufacture military aircraft
The Defence Ministry on Friday inked a nearly Rs 20,000 crore contract with Airbus Defence and Space of Spain to procure 56 C-295 medium transport aircraft which will replace Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force. The long-pending procurement was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security two weeks back. "Contract signed between #MinistryOfDefence and @AirbusDefence &Space, Spain for procurement of 56 C-295 transport aircraft for the #IAF," Defence Ministry Spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu tweeted. Under the deal, 16 aircraft will be delivered in a flyaway condition by the Airbus Defence and Space within 48 months of signing the contract. The remaining 40 planes will be manufactured in India by a consortium of the Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) within 10 years of signing the contract, officials said. The C-295 MW aircraft is a transport plane of 5-10 tonne capacity. This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will b
 "Tata, Airbus sign Rs 20,000-cr contract to manufacture military aircraft")
Imposing sanctions on India would be victory for Russia: Republican Senator
A top Republican Senator has said that imposing CAATSA sanctions on India for buying the multi-billion-dollar S-400 missile system from Russia would be a geostrategic victory for Moscow
 "Imposing sanctions on India would be victory for Russia: Republican Senator")
Defence sales to India shows commitment to security, sovereignty: US
The sale of major defence equipment to India which now stands at $20 billion shows America's commitment to India's security and sovereignty, the Biden administration said on Wednesday
 "Defence sales to India shows commitment to security, sovereignty: US")
Boeing gets US govt approval to offer F-15EX fighter jet to India
May join fray for IAF's acquisition of 114 medium fighters
 "Boeing gets US govt approval to offer F-15EX fighter jet to India")
India's S-400 deal with Russia may trigger US sanctions, says report
In October 2018, India had signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from the Trump administration
 "India's S-400 deal with Russia may trigger US sanctions, says report")
US stands with India in its efforts to defend sovereignty, liberty: Pompeo
The two countries inked a total of five agreements, including the long-negotiated Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) that will allow sharing of high-end military technology
 "US stands with India in its efforts to defend sovereignty, liberty: Pompeo")
Beyond 2+2
India must secure its own regional interests as well
 "Beyond 2+2")
