Why India Needs Ukraine: PM Modi's Strategic Visit & Defence Cooperation | The News9 Plus Show
Summary
TLDRIn a historic visit, Prime Minister Modi becomes the first Indian leader to visit Ukraine, a country with a robust defense relationship with India, particularly in aircraft and naval engines. The conversation delves into the critical defense ties, the potential for new collaborations post-visit, and the importance of self-sufficiency in defense technologies. Highlighting the significance of Ukrainian companies like Motor Sich, Ivchenko-Progress, and Zorya for India's military assets, the discussion underscores the strategic national interests and the ongoing efforts to secure and possibly bring defense technology to India.
Takeaways
- 😀 Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine is a historic first for India, marking the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited the country and possibly a war zone.
- 🔍 The relationship between India and Ukraine has been influenced by Russia, but both nations have maintained a strong defense partnership, particularly in the areas of aircraft and naval engines.
- 🛫 Ukraine has been a key supplier for the Indian Air Force, providing support for the overhaul of the Antonov 32 fleet and engines for the Indian Navy's frontline warships.
- ⚙️ Ukrainian companies have also been instrumental in providing nuclear fuel and technology to India, highlighting the depth of their defense cooperation.
- 🤝 The visit is expected to explore new avenues in the India-Ukraine defense relationship and could potentially give it a new direction.
- 🌾 India imports significant agricultural produce from Ukraine, including sunflower oil and wheat, indicating the country's importance as a 'breadbasket' to the world.
- 🏭 Three Ukrainian companies are of particular interest to the Indian military: Motor Sich for aircraft engines, Antonov for aircraft modernization, and Zorya-Mashpro for naval turbine engines.
- 🔄 The Indian Navy's frontline warships and the Antonov 32 aircraft are heavily dependent on Ukrainian engines, emphasizing the strategic importance of this relationship.
- 🛑 The geopolitical situation and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine pose challenges for India's defense interests, necessitating a reevaluation of its dependency on Ukrainian defense technology.
- 🛠️ There is an ongoing effort to bring Ukrainian defense technology to India, with initiatives to set up facilities and collaborate on technology transfers.
- 🌐 The Prime Minister's visit is seen as a cornerstone in India's foreign policy, aiming to balance relations with Russia, Europe, and the US while pursuing national interests.
Q & A
What significant milestone did Prime Minister Modi achieve with his visit to Ukraine?
-Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Ukraine and the first to travel into an active war zone.
How has India's relationship with Ukraine been historically influenced by its ties with Russia?
-India's relationship with Ukraine has been tempered by its strong ties with Russia, but both countries have maintained a robust defense relationship, particularly in areas like aircraft and warship engines.
What are some key contributions of Ukraine to India's defense sector?
-Ukraine has provided support for overhauling the Antonov An-32 aircraft fleet, supplied warship engines for the Indian Navy, and contributed nuclear fuel and technology.
Why is Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine considered important for India's national interest?
-The visit is seen as a significant step in balancing India's relationships with Russia, Europe, and the U.S., and in pursuing India's national interests through diplomacy and strategic partnerships.
Which three Ukrainian defense companies are of particular interest to the Indian military?
-The three Ukrainian defense companies of interest are Motor Sich, which provides engines for the An-32 aircraft, Spets Techno Export, involved in modernizing the An-32s, and Zorya-Mashproekt, which produces turbine engines for Indian Navy warships.
How critical are Ukrainian engines to the Indian Navy?
-Ukrainian engines are crucial to the Indian Navy, powering 16 frontline warships, including the Delhi and Kolkata class destroyers, and playing a vital role in the operational capability of the Navy.
What challenges does India face in maintaining its defense assets sourced from Ukraine?
-India faces challenges in maintaining these assets due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which could disrupt the supply of spare parts and support for Ukrainian-origin engines and other defense technologies.
What potential solutions are suggested for mitigating the impact of the Ukraine conflict on India's defense needs?
-One potential solution is for Indian companies to explore joint ventures or acquisitions of Ukrainian defense companies, bringing technology and expertise to India to ensure continuity in maintenance and development.
How does the conflict in Ukraine affect the global perception of Ukraine's defense capabilities?
-The conflict highlights Ukraine's defense capabilities, particularly with the use of drones and other technologies, which have garnered international attention and demonstrated their impact on modern warfare.
What strategic advantage does India gain by engaging with Ukrainian defense companies?
-Engaging with Ukrainian defense companies allows India to access advanced technology, expertise, and engineering solutions that are critical for maintaining and upgrading its defense platforms, while also fostering self-reliance under the 'Make in India' initiative.
Outlines
🤝 Prime Minister Modi's Historic Visit to Ukraine
This paragraph discusses the significance of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine, marking the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited the country and potentially a war zone. The script highlights the complex relationship between India and Ukraine, influenced by Russia, yet marked by strong defense ties, particularly in aircraft and naval engines. The conversation delves into the potential for the defense relationship to evolve post-visit, with a focus on the role of Ukraine in supplying engines for the Indian Air Force's Antonov-32 fleet and overhauling Indian Navy warships. The segment also introduces the studio guests, including a former defense adviser to Ukraine, setting the stage for a discussion on the future of India-Ukraine relations.
🔧 Defense Collaboration and National Interests
The second paragraph provides an in-depth look at the defense collaboration between India and Ukraine, emphasizing the critical role of Ukrainian companies like Motor Sich and Ivchenko-Progress in supplying engines for India's military platforms. It discusses the importance of these companies for the Indian Navy's frontline warships and Antonov-32 aircraft, and the strategic significance of Ukraine's support in India's defense capabilities. The conversation also touches on the broader national interests and geopolitical balancing act India has been performing between Russia and Ukraine. The discussion underscores the importance of self-sufficiency in critical defense technologies and the potential for Indian companies to engage with Ukrainian counterparts to secure these technologies.
🛰️ The Impact of Ukrainian Drones and Defense Technology
This paragraph explores the impact of Ukrainian defense technology, particularly drones, on the current conflict and the global stage. It discusses the potential short-term solutions for India to secure its defense interests, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The conversation suggests the possibility of Indian companies acquiring Ukrainian companies to bring expertise and technology to India, thereby insulating India from potential fallout. The discussion also highlights the importance of incremental technology transfer and the role of the Indian government in facilitating this process. The paragraph concludes with a broader reflection on the importance of national interests and defense self-sufficiency.
🌏 India's Strategic Role and Defense Interests
The final paragraph wraps up the discussion by emphasizing India's strategic role on the world stage and its defense interests. It acknowledges Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine as a significant move that goes beyond ceasefire talks and peace negotiations, touching upon India's broader national interests. The conversation also hints at the potential long-term implications of the visit for India-Ukraine relations, particularly in the defense sector. The paragraph concludes with a note of thanks to the guests for their insights and a reaffirmation of the importance of national interests and defense collaboration.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Prime Minister Modi
💡Ukraine
💡Defense tie-up
💡Antonov 32
💡Nuclear Fuel and Technology
💡Geopolitics
💡National Interest
💡Self-sufficiency
💡Aerospace Engine
💡Warships
💡Technology Transfer
Highlights
Prime Minister Modi's historic visit to Ukraine, marking the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister.
India and Ukraine's robust defense ties, particularly in aircraft and warship engines.
Ukraine's support in overhauling India's Antonov-32 fleet and frontline warships.
Ukrainian companies providing nuclear fuel and technology to India.
The potential for a new chapter in the India-Ukraine defense relationship post-visit.
Air Commodore Ashutosh's firsthand experience negotiating the Antonov-32 deal.
The critical nature of the Antonov-32 deal for upgrading over 100 frontline transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
India's balancing act between Russia and Ukraine for its national interest.
The importance of Prime Minister Modi's visit in the context of global geopolitics.
Comparing Modi's diplomatic efforts to Angela Merkel's in managing relations between Russia and the West.
The significance of Ukraine as a 'bread basket' to the world, including agricultural imports to India.
Three key Ukrainian companies—Motor Sich, Antonov, and Zorya—crucial to Indian defense.
The strategic importance of Ukrainian engines for 80% of the Indian Navy's frontline warships and 100 Antonov-32s.
The dependency on Ukraine for Russian helicopter engines used in India's military.
The need for India to be self-sufficient in critical defense technologies like aircraft engines and gas turbines.
Potential strategies for India to secure defense technology, including buying Ukrainian companies or joint ventures.
The impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine on the global stage, particularly regarding drones and defense technology.
The acceleration of technology transfer and defense collaboration between India and Ukraine post-Prime Minister Modi's visit.
The broader implications of the visit on India's food security and pharmaceutical interests in Ukraine.
Transcripts
[Music]
Prime Minister Modi has become the first
ever Indian Prime Minister to visit
Ukraine he's possibly also the first
Indian Prime Minister to travel into a
war zone now coming to the subject of
his visit
Ukraine India and Ukraine have had a
mixed relationship the relationship has
been tempered by the shadow of
Russia but nevertheless both countries
have had a robust defense tie up
particularly in areas like aircraft the
a32
engines warship engines for the Indian
Navy Ukraine has provided us support for
overhauling not just the a32 fleet of
aircraft but also the Indian Navy's
Frontline warships you Ukrainian
companies have also provided nuclear
Fuel and Technology to India so the
questions that we asking today are what
more is there in the pipeline will the
India Ukraine defense relationship get a
new flip after this visit I'm joined by
my colleague Deepak badana in the studio
and joining us from the uae's air
commodor ashutosh L Former Defense
adviser to Ukraine eal welcome to the
news9 Plus show thank you very much for
having me on the show thanks for joining
us EA and I want to start off by asking
you tell us what it was like being in
Ukraine a decade ago when you were
negotiating the a32 deal the deal to
upgrade over 100 Frontline Transport
Aircraft for the Indian Air Force how
critical was that deal for the iaf so
thank you s for getting me over on this
point particular Point let me just you
know try and put things into perspective
uh I bring you a ringside View to what I
saw over there actually I I was there at
at simul that fateful December night
when Crimea changed hands from Ukraine
to Russia in 2014 yes that's right csy
Ambassador our ambassador denan
Ambassador Mr rajes Mr Raj chander who's
leader par excellence and Diplomat par
Excellence he taught us and gave us the
freedom to work and that's what we saw
and to tell you that on the second uh
attack when it took place in February of
22 I again happened to be in Ria the
east of Ukraine that particular fateful
night so I bring you the real ringside
The View on the whole thing actually yes
let me put this into the perspective of
national perspective and National
interest uh it's it's about our
country's National interest and it's
about any country's National interest
the way they follow their geopolitics
and their Foreign Relations uh and how
we go about things actually let me tell
you sandep if you have had any bit of
sunflower oil you have a little bit of
Ukraine inside you
yes so before the defense deals happened
there was much more happening between
India and Ukraine and whenever the
countries were at these particular
parties uh between Russia and Ukraine
India was balancing it well for its own
National interest which is doing it
today as well and and this is where our
honorable prime minister's visit is very
very important in particular engineered
by the ministry of external Affairs I'm
sure this visit is a Corner Stone in our
turning in our nation arriving on the on
the entire scene over here how do I say
that would you recall any other leader
in the world stage earlier which could
access both sides Russia Europe us and
anywhere else let me remind you Madame
Angela Merkel she was the one with her
East European Legacy was able to reach
out to Mr Putin as well as to the west
and to try and build that equal balance
which was required in this critical
situation I think after that our prime
minister traveling both to Russia week
back and now to Ukraine is the other
Grand leader who's emerging on the on
the on the world Forum who's able to
talk to both the parties and be able to
show how the balance can be developed
National interest can be pursued
diplomacy continued and the world can
continue to progress without having to
indulge in a blooded battle and War
absolutely now is not the time for War
as the prime minister's mentioned uh but
but you know one forgets the amount of
agricultural produce that India has been
importing from Ukraine as eomo mentioned
Deepak uh sunflower oil of course wheat
Ukraine is like literally the Bread
Basket of the world but what are the
three companies that you've been
tracking very closely deepok when it
comes to the defense relationship I'm
going to ask aor La this but I'm going
ask you this because you've been
tracking this story in the light of the
prime minister's visit to Ukraine what
are the three Ukrainian companies the
Indian military would be looking at very
very very closely closely so there are
three companies and it's well that the
Indian military is looking at them
closely because they're right there at
the front lines yes so number one is uh
Moto which is in zeporia yes right in
the right on the front lines front line
now motoi is uh providing care for the
engines for the Antonov 32s that we have
yes while the Antonov themselves are
being uh modernized by this state owned
Enterprise called the spets export spte
export which is based out of Kiev again
on the front line yes last we heard the
Russian army was right on the doorsteps
right again then there's a third company
which is called zorya MPR now zorya mpro
produces turbine engines for over 130
different uh warships of the Indian Navy
so it's not just the Kolkata destroyers
it's the talwar frates 20 20 Frontline
warships I must correct you 130 engines
are there yes 130 engines and it's got
uh 16 warships Frontline warships are
powered by the zorya
gas turbines and four more are building
and in fact the Delhi class and the
Kolkata class that you see are powered
by Ukrainian gas turban engines and I'm
going to jump into my next question to
eor eor when you were there these three
companies were on your table these files
with the names of these companies
whether it's Moto it's Antonov and of
course zorya how critical are these
companies literally for the Indian
defense platforms like 80% of the Indian
Navy's Frontline warships 100
a32s powered by Ukrainian uh you know uh
engines all of this makes Ukraine
automatically a Frontline State as far
as we concerned to maintain these uh
assets so let me give this uh little bit
of a correction here s that it is
firstly motor sit
SI small part but the major part is that
motor sit along with a design house
called ieno progress which is the design
house for the Aero engines nearly 97
Aero engine designs uh perfected to the
DAT over there remember they flew Mia
a225 for Russian space shuttle Buran so
there is a shared dependency in the
entire cerate of uh Soviet Russia which
was there of which India has been
beneficial of two major things a32 you
brought out rightly but also all the
Russian helicopter engines largely which
are flying in India ever since from mi4s
to mi8 to mi-17s mi-26
m2535 except the latest version of M7 V5
which have the kov engine which comes
from Russia other engines have been from
Ukraine and uh they have been standing
good for us for all all our army
supplies at high altitudes of mountains
and everything else you know what that
the fact of the matter is that it is our
national interest that we have to
safeguard uh in fact there's just a bit
of a trivia I want to bring out to your
notice zor's engine Vis the AO engines
the gas turbines for the warships and
the gas turbines for the for the
aeroplanes slight subtle difference
which is very important actually when
you want to build a warship you will
have to first choose your engines then
you'll have to choose the transmission
now this engine transmission has to be
quietened
by technology then you build the ship
around this because the ship has to be
very very silent to the sonar of a of of
a submarine yes so be that it may in
case of an aeroplane you can make an
aeroplane first you can go ahead and
develop an aeroplane you can put a
proven engine like you did in LCA and a
engine under test over there and then
fly the airoplane prove your engine and
then move forward from there so for Navy
it is even more critical that they have
to forecast 20 10 15 years in advance
that we will take this engine and
therefore we will depend upon that so
that is our kind of a dependency that we
are we are following as of now fact of
the matter remains that Ukraine remains
very very important to our country uh
not only from the defense point of view
there is Pharma there is grains which
you mentioned but coming to the defense
part per se itself be rest assured that
we are interested to see how we can
benefit from Ukraine or from Russia or
from anywhere else in terms of
Technology mind you our prime minister
has given us the mandate that it must
happen make in India Absol we need to
move forward in that direction so we
need to get sorry to interrup but I'm
just saying we one one last point that
we need to get the expertise the
technology the Metallurgy the knowhow
the experience and then try to work how
our systems can come online whether it
be overall of an existing engine or
development of a new engine or a new
technology or a new Direction a new
vector or what can Ena don't forget get
the Kursk uh uh episode is on right now
and the Ukrainian small drones and the
swarm of drones is being talked about on
the world stage how much of an impact
it's having on the war and the conflict
itself is a separate issue altogether
but nonetheless they're making a Big
Splash in this Pawn for sure absolutely
and uh you know my last question to
youal is that you know what you just
highlighted makes the case uh
a 10,000 times for atbar bhat there can
be no uh escaping that that you have to
be self-sufficient especially when it
comes to Critical Defense Technologies
like aircraft engines gas turbines for
your warships because without engines
there're nothing but hungs of metal but
given the fact that we are in the
situation that we are in today that we
made the decision of buying those
Ukrainian gas turbines and getting the
a32s and the engines with all of these
aircraft and they going to be with us
for the next two decades or so uh in
Frontline military service as a
professional what is the shortterm
solution for these worries would it be
for Indian companies to maybe try and
buy the Ukrainian companies and possibly
bring them here train our experts and
then you know get joint ventures in
India of the kind that have been
discussed give us your thoughts on the
way forward to insulate us from you know
this potenti poal Fallout of conflict in
Ukraine thank you s thank thank you for
that question but uh let me just bring
into uh examples here very short
examples the entire ICBM force of Russia
ss8 21 till you know in that zone and
range numbers would you recall which is
the designed house which made these uh
these icbms Uso the Ukrainian space
design
house all also lining the Roaring
aircraft carrier of our Eastern neighbor
who's now in South China Sea and our own
second aircraft carrier would it
surprise you that they are brothers born
on the same birth in the city of molive
on the Dead
Sea they came to us from a different
routs but they have the same uh they
have the same origin absolutely yes the
same origin the same design for the the
same origin the same design and the same
spare parts yes spare parts as well so
having said that if you now look at the
entire thing how is it possible for us
to do these particular activities either
we buy or we get induction I just want
to assure your viewers through your
channel and through you is that right
now a massive process is on to try and
get this technology into India in a
incremental manner there are
restrictions there are limitations uh of
adjusting be rest assured that our
government's bodies are working very
hard and I know some of them I don't
want to speak them about them on the
camera uh but the fact remains that they
are working very hard in terms of zoria
some facilities being set up here in
India in terms of ano venko progress
something else happening over here in
India and we are moving forward in that
particular directions well the pace of
it I'm sure will get uh benefited by our
honorable prime minister's visit to to
Ukraine and and he would get to see the
same side everybody would understand how
the shared interests are uh you know uh
an example comes to my mind which is not
from the defense when I was there in
2014 would surprise you that China Leed
an area of Ukraine of the size of
Belgium and it built a deep sea port
right next to it right and carted all
the produced over there from that
particular area to China you talk of
food
security so this is how the entire
concept is required to be evolved and I
want to assure you that right now it is
happening and right now Perhaps it is
getting accelerated and all these
components are going to come into factor
and uh we would see uh a better time for
us maybe our Dro our design
organizations uh taking help from these
design houses like ieno progress in
sorting out issues which have been
overhanging onto us and uh making a fair
progress on that particular direction it
will certainly have a large and a great
impact towards bhat and absolutely thank
you thank you so much eal for uh
revealing those uh under negotiation uh
talks with ieno mosik if I pronounce it
correctly zorya and of course the
Antonov design Bureau I these are four
of the main reasons that uh India and
Ukraine have uh you know uh a bond
that's going to last several decades at
least uh Deepak but thank you very much
for joining us eumo from UAE and uh
talking to us about this very critical
visit being made by Prime Minister Modi
fact that he's traveling into an active
war zone it's more than just talks of a
ceasefire of Peace it's also India's
national interests and certainly India's
defense interest to explain but thank
you so much for joining usal uh wish you
all the very best blue skies as always
[Music]
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