The arms traders trip up Russian MIC

The author deals with the two recent loudest scandals in the Russian MIC, the conflict that involves Baltiysky Shipyard and Severnaya Verf over the Chinese destroyers and the delays in the delivery of the Indian frigates. Mr.Puhov draws attention to the fact that during the IMDS the Chairman of the MTC Committee Mihail Dmitriev himself stated that Russia may and should pay the 40$m of fines to India due to the delay of the delivery, although the Indians themselves had kept silence over the matter. Jane's Defense Weekly willingly continued discussing the problems. The author accuses the MTC Committee bureaucrats and Mr.Dmitriev in particular that they waste the MIC’s money too easily. According to him this is because of their direct involvement in the competition inside the MIC. In the article Mr.Puhov criticizes the incompetence of the committee’s heads, doubts there is a need for such a committee and urges to stop bias and half legal activities aimed at supporting own interests in such situations.

The Director of the Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies praises the Su-30MKI fighter and project 11356 frigates, which proved they can successfully compete with the best foreign analogues, and which were created in spite of the unfriendly circumstances and disadvantageous economic situation. “By today project 11356 frigates is the best Russian naval product and will remain such at least until when project 20380 corvettes are commissioned”. The author suggests that project 11356 frigate is a higher achievement than the 20380 corvette. “According to some non-governmental experts the latter is too big size wise for the Baltic Sea, having excessive anti sub power and too little air defense.”

Although it is not said directly, the author concludes it is likely that India will consider building the second lot of the frigates in Russia.