There are fundamental flaws in procurement and corruption within the armed forces and MoD. As long as that continues the Russians will have a good foothold.
The Indian MoD should have usurped the Chinese and pounced on the Varyag in the 90s. They could have outfitted her at their own pace & cost, inviting tenders from Western yards & naval specialists, think of the awesome air-wing the IN could have deployed aboard her.
Even at this stage the Indian Govt. should cancel the Gorshkov order and save the $2.4bn and take legal redress against Sevmash for the remaining $500m. Believe me ,there are plenty of shipyards around The World that would kill for an aircraft-carrier order (IF the cost hike reports are true).
Everybody is trying to court India as a strategic & economic ally (also as a stalwart against China). It’s not in Russia’s interests to play silly games.
Having said that, maybe the Russians are seeing how far they can push the Indians, they may use Gorshkov/Nerpa as a ‘pressure point’ to split the MMRCA order because they know they can’t win it outright (maybe 60/40)- anything that redresses MiG’s balance sheet.
Such tactics may appear underhand- but EVERYBODY does it.
However, with Israeli & Western Defence firms clamouring for the Indian Defence market, Russia can’t afford to upset one of her few remaining friends & allies.
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