Thread by @UTobyM

The Russia-Ukraine Conflict presents India with a big diplomatic dilemma.

The Indo–Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation formed the basis of strategic cooperation in space technologies, defence manufacturing, ocean research & agriculture.

It's hard to forget how the Soviets blocked the American and British Navies from interfering in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, at a time when the world's largest democracy, India was supporting freedom and democracy in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
rbth.com/articles/2011/…

USSR then included Russia and Ukraine, both of whom continue to retain close relations with India after the USSR disintegrated in 1989.

And Russia has extended its Military-Industrial cooperation with India after the fall of USSR.

Over the past three decades India has developed close relations with Western Democracies 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇨🇦. Naturally, given our similar political systems, shared values, cultural, social and business ties. Ties between Bangalore and Silicon Valley have powered the global tech boom.

It's therefore tough for us to take sides, given this history. Plus, we're friendly with all sides.

But with one party raising the risk of Nuclear War, neutrality may not remain an option for long.

Indians harbour fond memories of Soviet all-weather diplomatic support at the UN, and in defence supplies. And remember "Russia has been our closest friend". This relationship was at its strongest during the period when Leonid Brezhnev led the Soviet Union (1964-84).

It's important to understand that 'Soviet Best Friend' Brezhnev 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻. He had India's back through thick and thin. Always.

The Russian Federation under Boris Yeltsin departed from the Soviet policy of blanket support when it joined others in censuring India for Pokhran II at the UN Security Council.

un.org/press/en/1998/…

Our 'good friend' (!?!) Putin has been totally mercantile/mercenary in his approach to India...they've jacked up the price of all defence supplies to us, while cosying up to China. He's surrounded by oligarchs who work solely for profit.

Today Russia is a Chinese Client State

Meanwhile, over the past 15 years India and USA have forged a close partnership.

"Our partners in India are tremendous partners, and the military-to-military relationship is probably at its highest point. We continue to do more together," Admiral Aquilino
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/america-…

This partnership spans across security, economic, diplomatic & technological domains. We share ideals of Democracy and Lawful Process.

And here's the 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬: we share a common antagonist, China.

#MakeInIndia 🇮🇳
To transform India, to raise incomes and standards of living for the teeming masses, India has to replace China as the World's Factory.

Choices determine Destiny, and what we decide today will echo across two/three generations.

bbc.com/news/world-asi…

Eventually, China is the common security challenge we will need to face.
🇮🇳🇺🇲🇬🇧🇯🇵🇪🇺 🇦🇺 🇨🇦

https://twitter.com/PatPorter76/status/1503563666771173380?t=iKrNS5y2yqAm3_24MPx75g&s=19

National Power is based on Economic Strength, Military Capacity and Diplomatic Influence.

China, is India's rival in all three spheres. We compete for resources, markets, and territory. Our soldiers stand eyeball-to-eyeball on the borders.

Image: Time Magazine

India is a bulwark against Chinese expansionism. They covet Indian territory, and militarily contest our borders.

And yet there are dreamers who romanticise about brotherly & peaceful relations between us...but 'Hindi-Chini-Bhai-Bhai' is a myth, as we painfully learned in 1962.

Given its precarious economic condition, India's old ally Russia, is now economically dependent on China, and cannot be expected to come to India's aid if there's a conflict with China. Indeed IMHO Russia is rapidly headed towards becoming a Chinese vassal state.

One immediate fallout is the disruption to supply of spares needed for sustenance of India's military. With a huge inventory of Russian armaments, on the face of it we appear vulnerable.

But these constraints also create new opportunities for India...
m.economictimes.com/news/defence/s…

India faced a similar situation in 1990-91 when the Soviet Union collapsed. No parts were available for IA's 4,000+ T-72 Tanks.

We rapidly developed the Transmissions; Hydraulic Couplings/ Pumps/ Distribution Mechanisms, and then improved these, for which we won a National Award

What I'm trying to say is, that we have to act fearlessly. Atma Nirbharta is a state of mind.

The example given above happened 3 decades ago. Indian industry stood up then, and it'll stand up again now. It just requires us to realize that we own our destiny. 🇮🇳

Another thing that was apparent from build-quality was that while Russia had an armaments industry, India's automotive engineering capabilities had already surpassed it in the early '90s.

Frankly, we were 'in the Maruti era, while they were still stuck in the Ambassador age'.

The extremely poor performance of Russian Armour in Ukraine, confirms this. They've shown themselves to be useless against Javelin & NLAW antitank weapons and Bayraktar TB2 drones.

We should be concerned about our own inventory of T-72 & T-90 tanks.

wsj.com/articles/ukrai…

On a higher plane, we need to be asking ourselves whether we should spend more on developing Armoured Vehicles and Battle Tanks, or on UCAVS and Portable ATGMs...

Ukraine has shown that the nature of ground war has changed dramatically.

https://twitter.com/DefenceDecode/status/1506909129855893504?t=1c8vnMt9P7FrYGXFgFZ0Pg&s=19

In 2003, India started manufacturing Sukhoi-30MKIs at HAL under license from the Russian Federation. This was the largest defence manufacturing program in India since 1947. In a unique 🇮🇳 Public-Private-Partnership, @DynamaticTech produced approx One-Sixth of the Total Airframe.

Deep Industrialisation: @DynamaticTech workshare entailed not just assembly, but included production of 3,500+ detail parts made of high-strength aerospace materials., which in turn were incorporated into major assemblies and control surfaces.

@DynamaticTech brought digitization into what hitherto was an analog Russian manufacturing program. This significantly improved data fidelity, repeatability & build quality.

I would say with confidence that Indian Sukhois are assembled with greater precision than the original.

China also flies Sukhois, which they've poorly reverse-engineered from Russian originals. Pound for pound, we've got better craft, but China can overwhelm us with sheer numbers

However, the war in Ukraine has shown up Russian planes/ Battle Tanks in a very poor light....cont'd

Over the past two decades, successive Indian Governments have built deeper strategic, military and economic relationships with USA & Europe.

The design & quality of new western equipment provides our soldiers/airmen with far superior performance, reliability and availability...

The technology jump provided by our western partners negates China's larger numbers.

@DynamaticTech has been at the heart of India's military-industrial pivot westward, and I will say with emphasis that tech & quality are at a different level.

More details over the weekend

Following the retreat from Afghanistan, the bugles started sounding for the collapse of the Soviet Union.

While this signalled the end of the cold war, South Asian entanglements remained unresolved. Unemployed militants,were now available to US ally Pakistan, for 🇮🇳redeployment.

Pakistan for long, had sought to undermine India the world's largest democracy, with whom it had a lifelong rivalry. Unable to win militarily, Pakistan now channeled terrorists from Afghanistan into Kashmir. This became a flood after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

Kashmiriyat, the age-old tradition of harmony, with joint celebration of religious and cultural festivals, cuisine & language by both Kashmiri Hindus and Kashmiri Muslims was completely destroyed by these terrorists.

The wounds inflicted over three decades continue to fester.

The '90s witnessed increased Pak-backed terrorism in Kashmir, at a time when USA too was pivoting away from the region post the Soviet collapse.

India started liberalising her economy, boosting the private sector, giving rise to young Indian tech cos working globally. A new infotech corridor emerged between Bangalore and Silicon Valley powering the rise of the www.

Indo-US business and commerce ties flourished.
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A few companies in Bangalore,Hyderabad & Chennai had started partnering the Ministries of Defence, Science & Technology to fill gaps left by the implosion of the Soviet Union.

@DynamaticTech was an early pioneer working for National Security. A great privilege for us. And Karma

Personally, the 90's were amazing for me as a young entrepreneur. We expanded our R&D capabilities, and onboarded extraordinary leaders from the public sector & 🇮🇳military to help us build scale.

And we engaged with companies in USA, Europe, Japan, Israel & South Korea.

And India's manufacturing companies benefited greatly from global market access & quality processes. @DynamaticTech honed its mfg processes to perfection utilizing Japanese expertise. Even today, our blend of (+) quality / (-) cost beats Chinese Cos hands down.They can't compete.

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”
- Mahatma Gandhi, when envisioning India independent and globalised.

In 1997, it was a privilege to be nominated to the Governing Board of IIT Kanpur, set up in 1959 in collaboration with nine top US universities; MIT, UCB, CalTech, Princeton, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Univ. Michigan, Ohio State Univ, Case Institute of Technology & Purdue.

In areas other than military / defence, India and the US had wide-ranging ties from the early days of our republic. Post 1991, a globalizing India was changing the South Asian geopolitical calculus. Democratic India looked great when compared to US collaborators China & Pakistan.

During May 1998, India conducted five nuclear tests giving India the capability to build fission & thermonuclear weapons with yields up to 200 kilotons.

Coming after a hiatus of 24 years (India had first tested a nuclear device in 1974),these tests attracted global condemnation.

"India and the United States are natural allies in the quest for a better future for the world in the 21st century."

In Sep 1998, visionary PM Atal B.Vajpayee ji addressed the Asia Society in NYC,calling for a broad reset in Indo-US relations. [Must read]
asiasociety.org/india-usa-and-…

Since then every administration in India & USA: BJP / Congress, Republican / Democrat,have worked closely together to cement the US-India Strategic Partnership.
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Images: ORF, Indian Express, Financial Express

India and the United States agreed to Civil Nuclear cooperation through a series of ground- breaking and India-specific agreements (2005~2008).

And India became the only declared nuclear weapon state not party to the NPT, permitted to trade with nuclear suppliers.
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Subsequently, India signed civil nuclear agreements with 13 other countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Namibia, Russia, S.Korea, UK, and Vietnam.

Critics point out that India hasn't built any nuclear plants based on American technology in all these years.

They miss the main point; that 🇺🇸🇮🇳 cooperation ended decades-long nuclear apartheid, and enabled deeper strategic engagement between the countries across all domains.

"As a rising global power, India can be a pillar of stability in a rapidly changing Asia and a strategic partner for the United States....A key to unlocking the full promise of this partnership is the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative"

- Secretary Condy Rice, July 10, 2006

Over the past 15 years, India has accessed the world's finest defence technologies from USA, UK, EU & Israel for her Army, Navy & Airforce.

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the potency of western arms against Russian equipment. This augers well for India against our rivals.

Tejas, our 🇮🇳Light Combat Aircraft designed by ADA, and built by @HALHQBLR has been designed to be built in partnership with Indian private-sector partners.

It is powered by 🇺🇸GE engines, incorporates cutting edge western tech, and can carry both Indian & western ordinance.

@DynamaticTech builds the front-fuselage for HAL with pride.

The versatile Tejas will evolve into future variants, and provide a strong foundation for an entire family of future 🇮🇳 jet fighters.

Sitting on top of the strategic Indian Ocean (IOR), India has a large area to cover with our blue-water navy. Our Flagship Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikramaditya was built in Ukraine.

Over the past 15 years, China has expanded its naval activities in the IOR, with naval ships and submarines constantly probing and our defenses.

A decade ago, the Indian Navy broke new ground by procuring the world's finest maritime reconnaissance aircraft, 🇺🇸 Boeing's P8.

With a dozen P8s, the 🇮🇳 Indian Navy is the largest operator after the US Navy 🇺🇸. In addition to it's recce role, the P8 is a potent submarine hunter capable of search & destroy. Importantly, it is fully interoperable with 🇺🇸🇦🇺 US+Aus P8s

In 2010, @DynamaticTech started working closely with @Boeing_In to develop India-content on these amazing aircraft. Today we are the sole supplier of the power & mission cabinets and other mechanical assembliesfor all P8s worldwide. 🇮🇳🤝🇺🇸

The Indian Airforce has been flying Ukrainian-built Antonov Aircraft to transport men and war-materiel for decades.

As part of our modernization, India bought C-130Js from Lockheed Martin. The empennage for C-130Js worldwide are built in India by @TataCompanies 🇮🇳🤝🇺🇸

The 🇮🇳 Indian Airforce also bought 🇺🇸 Boeing C-17 Globemasters which are best-of-breed heavy lift aircraft. They recently proved their mettle during evacuation of Indian students from the war zone in Ukraine.
deccanherald.com/national/boein…

In 2014, immediately after PM Modiji announced his signature #MakeInIndia campaign, @DynamaticTech set up manufacturing facilities to build Main Pylons and Ramps for the iconic Boeing CH-47 Chinook Helicopter. Within one year, we were exporting these complex assemblies to Boeing.

The collaboration between @BoeingDefense and @DynamaticTech to transfer technical & artisanal skills for complex assemblies is an example of real 🇺🇸🤝🇮🇳

Deep Industrialisation: 100% of the components were developed by us, not just final assembly.
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In 2015, the Indian Army placed orders for Chinooks.

When our military had to mobilize rapidly to counter Chinese incursions in Ladakh, India's C-17 Globemasters, C-130Js and Chinooks were able to immediately create an airbridge to inaccessible spots directly on the frontline.

The Indian Army now uses ultra-light M777 howitzers that can be swiftly deployed across the Himalayas underslung below Chinook helicopters. Originally built by BAE Systems in 🇬🇧🇺🇸UK+US, future lots will be built locally 🇮🇳by Mahindra Defence.
#MakeInIndia
hindustantimes.com/india-news/arm…

L&T now produces K-9 Vajra tracked howitzers in partnership with 🇰🇷South Korean firm Hanwha Defense. In addition to the 100 already delivered, 🇮🇳 MoD is ordering 200 more.

#MakeInIndia at work, creating local jobs & taxes, and defence self-reliance ✊️
indiatoday.in/india-today-in…

The Indian Airforce has inducted Boeing's potent AH-64E Apache combat helicopters onto our frontline.

Tata-Boeing JV is the sole global producer of fuselages for AH-64 Apache helicopter delivered by Boeing to its customers including the U.S. Army.
🇺🇸🤝🇮🇳
newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/ju…

The US-India Partnership goes far deeper than just defence cooperation. Since both countries share a common language, democratic principles & rule of law, companies can collaborate on a broad scale.

@DynamaticTech has digitized over 1600 parts for Bell Helicopter... continued

cont'd...
using these digital models to produce major fuselage assemblies for the bestselling Bell 407 Helicopter on a single-source basis globally. US-India collaborative engineering has the potential to revolutionize advanced manufacturing.
#MakeInIndia 🇺🇸🤝🇮🇳

"Designation as a Major Defense Partner is a status unique to India and institutionalizes the progress made to facilitate defense trade and technology sharing with India to a level at par with that of the United States' closest allies"
Joint Statement 2016
defense.gov/News/Releases/…

In 2016, 🇮🇳India signed an inter-governmental agreement with 🇫🇷France to procure 36 Dassault Rafale Fighter Jets.

As part of the deal, Dassault agreed to set up substantial manufacturing activities in India.

@DynamaticTech has manufactured critical assembly tools, then has installed and qualified these in Dassault's Indian plant. 🇫🇷🤝🇮🇳

Unlike in the past where we simply bought Soviet equipment, defence procurement from our Western Allies has brought India world-class military assets, local manufacturing, export markets, and technology & skills. 🇺🇸🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇺🇰🇷🇮🇱

Several commentators speak about India's dependence on Russia for Defence Equipment as a justification to condone Russian violence in Ukraine, and as a reason to remain neutral.

Our partnership with the west has moved us from Dependence to Interdependence & Interoperability.

Indian Defence & Aerospace Exports are rocketing.

https://twitter.com/DefProdnIndia/status/1511360677864419331?t=tfk2MLnIbKvlfSIEHK1r8g&s=19

The induction of twenty four MH60R Seahawks is bringing potent anti-submarine capabilities to the Indian Navy. Our pilots have been trained at US Naval bases, and @TataCompanies will export major aerostructures to Sikorsky in return. #IndoUSPartnership

https://twitter.com/ReviewVayu/status/1512409129880797190?t=NOg2zVRQpuDe5djpN0alFg&s=19

India had procured most of its defence equipment in past decades from R̶u̶s̶s̶i̶a̶ Soviet Union. But over the past 17 years, we've bought the latest western defence technologies for our armed forces, and jointly trained using interoperable systems with fellow democracies 🇮🇳🇺🇸🇪🇺🇬🇧

India has emerged as a trusted hub for high-quality manufacturing. Contracts and IP rights are respected, and it is both market & supplier to the global economy.
When India connects with global economies, it expands the pie for everyone bringing growth to jobs & taxes everywhere.

This is not only about defence and security.
During this century, aerospace technologies will redefine mobility at both local & global levels, and also in space.

ありがとう、鈴木様。日本の善良な人々へのご挨拶。
#MakeInIndia 🇮🇳🇯🇵

https://twitter.com/EOJinIndia/status/1512283739513974788?t=Ao54h4FH-eLkXHeTqv68Yg&s=19