A broad defence cooperation agreement was among five pacts signed
following delegation-level talks between the visiting Ukrainian
President, Viktor Yanukovych, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 10.
With Ukraine having consolidated its military enterprises into bodies
under governmental control, on the lines of what Russia did to its
military-industrial complex a decade ago, New Delhi feels the path has
been smoothened for a more intimate defence relationship.
Instead of dealing with a number of defence enterprises scattered over
Ukraine, India will find it easier to conduct focussed negotiations,
which could help it get a better deal.
During the Soviet times, Ukraine was home to 30 per cent of the
country’s military industrial complex and it is now attempting to
modernise its defence industry. In this scenario, India senses it will
be able to duplicate its approach towards Russia of moving away from the
buyer-seller relationship and going in for an R&D-joint production
model such as the pacts with Moscow for Fifth Generation Fighter
Aircraft, Military Transport Aircraft and BrahMos.
Ukraine is already modernising India’s 100-plus fleet of military
transport aircraft and has been active in providing engines for naval
vessels and military spares.
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