Russian Military Cooperation

Russian Military Cooperation: Three-Prong Approach

Traditionally the Russian military cooperation was considered as one-prong approach: the sale of Russian made military hardware to foreign countries with minimum purchase level of foreign equipment like thermal vision equipment (by THALES). Today in the frame of ongoing military reform in the Russian Army much more often the military cooperation is assessed as two-prong approach with deviation towards the purchase not only equipment but technologies and military hardware itself. The shining example of it is the ongoing negotiations on the Mistral (the Mistral (L9013) is an amphibious assault ship a type of helicopter carrier of the French Navy).

Together with negotiations on Mistral, a reasonable question comes up, whether the Russian Federation is able to purchase military technologies and weapon systems abroad and at the same time provide proper country security level as well as support and develop domestic military industrial complex. As it could be seen the problem is very complicated one as well as it needs complex approach and analysis.

In 2010 the State-run Armament Program for 2011 – 2020 is supposed to be developed this year. The assigned task is to reach the annual renewal of military hardware at a level of 9-11% It allows to increase the number of modern military hardware in the Russian Army units up to 70% by 2020. It is worth to mention that the State-run Armament Program is linked with the development of the domestic military industrial complex. The allocated money is around one trillion rubles, which makes the Program as a paramount activity.

Import of Foreign Made Components to Provide Export Contracts and Meet Growing Demands of Russian Armed Forces
In late of 90-es in order to fulfill export terms under previously inked contracts, Russia embarked on import of foreign made components.
One of the first outcome of this cooperation was the delivery of the Su-30 MKI (MKI abbreviation stands for Modernized Commercial for India) fighter to India. The fighter was equipped with “international” avionics, made in France and India. The delivery of the first series of the Su-30 MKI fighters was in 2002.
Another interesting and remarkable example of this kind of cooperation is the delivery of 18 Russian Su-30 MKM (the last letter M stands for Malaysia) fighters to Malaysia. The latter itself chose the complete equipment made by foreign companies for the fighter. For instance, 120 million Euro were allocated to avionics by THALES.
The similar situation formed over the MiGs export deliveries, such as MiG-29 K/KUB export to India, Su-30MKA to Algeria etc.
As far as Army is concerned, the cooperation with the THALES company allowed to equip the T-80 and T-90 tanks as well as the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle with thermal imagery device. Today the company provided around one thousand devices to Russia in accordance with the contract forged with “ROSOBORONEXPORT”. In the wake of this contract the Vologda Optical-and-Mechanical plant is said to manufacture thermal imagery devices in cooperation with the French company in this year.

Import of Foreign Made Military Hardware for Russian Armed Forces
If the first aspect of the Russian military cooperation does not stir so many disputes and quarrels, the purchase of weapon systems is a hallmark of the ongoing military reform and the import of foreign made weapons pushes politics, military experts and authorities for hard talks.
The import of foreign made weapons is assessed as a relatively new way of the Russian military cooperation. The conservatives and the followers of the Soviet Union policy point that the level of mutual confidence between Russia and Western Countries is not so high as it could be and the Russian Federation cannot import military hardware especially where it can threaten the national security. This point of view has the right to exist. However the time has changed. In 90-es only the Soviet Union and the United States of America were able to cover all fields of military production without assistance or purchase from foreign states. However this factor in conjunction with others economy factors led to the collapse of USSR, and nowadays Russia is unable to produce military hardware itself and has to opt for partial import of foreign made weapons and armament.
Another important point in the frame of foreign made military hardware is acquisition of license for all arms that are going to be purchased. Without this Russia cannot cover the technological gap in military industry. This is not totally new policy, during its history Russia appealed to foreign technologies.
Before and during WWI Russia massively purchased ships and naval systems, aircrafts, engines, small arms, artillery pieces. Together with military hardware Russia acquired licenses and organized the production of weapons on its territory. During devastating Socialist Revolution and Civil War as well as several years of ill-advised economic reforms young Soviet Union in 30-es faced relatively the same challenges as Tzarist Russia faced in the beginning of the XX century.
The Soviets had to purchase the US made Kristi (M1) tank and its production technologies, later on the Soviet BT-7 was created. It is notable fact that the Kristi's suspension was used at one of the famous T-34 modification. The same story was with the British Vickers tank. On the bases of that tank the Soviet Union produced T-26.
In all cases, and this should be underlined, Russia and the Soviet Union purchased along with military hardware the license to produce it domestically. This policy helped the country several times and the last example is the Victory over Fascists Germany.
Today Russia lagged from some western countries in some areas such as unmanned areal vehicles (however there are some Russian made UAVs that could fully compete with their American or Israeli models; read the article ….......), air-independent propulsion, telecommunications.

Export of Russian Military Hardware Abroad
Along with traditional countries in the Middle East, like Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and in the South East Asia region, like China, India, Malaysia, Vietnam the delivery of the Russian made military hardware to NATO countries is gaining momentum. Well known Russian made small arms under trademark of Kalashnikov, specially designed for the NATO caliber, such as AK-101 and AK-102, have become very popular among the members of North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Some western countries pay great attention towards Russian Anti-Aircraft missile systems, for instance, towards C-300, “BUK” and “TOR”.
Another way of military cooperation with NATO members is modernization of military hardware which is already in service and produced in the Soviet Union. In the first instance this way of military cooperation relates to the new members of the Organization: Poland, Bulgaria and Hungary. At the beginning these countries were eager to get rid of Russian/Soviet heritage including weapons. However the calculations regarding the adoption of the NATO standards cost too much, around 10-15 million US dollars, thereby the modernization is far cheaper. As an example of this fruitful cooperation is deep modernization of the “Msta” self-propelled howitzer which was rebuilt for NATO caliber of 155 mm (Russian caliber is 152 mm).
Today Russian representatives of “ROSOBORONEXPORT” hold negotiations with some NATO members and the outcome is pro missed to be positive. In 2008 Croatia received 10 Mi-171 Sh multipurpose helicopters. The contract with Croatia was inked in 2006.
Unfortunately due to the financial crisis the delivery to Greece of around 400 vehicles was suspended. The deal was considered as the most profitable in the frame of sale of Russian armament to NATO countries.

The Perspectives of Military Cooperation
2009 can be considered as a breakthrough year for military cooperation between Russia and West countries on mutual bases. Moscow is able to offer new technologies in space industry and aircraft industry both in military and civilian fields. Recently the President of the Russian Federation D. Medvedev called for unified anti-ballistic missile defense. Russian designers have great experience in such a field and are able to offer cutting-edge technologies that can be very useful to achieve the common goal.
Specialists share the common vision of promising co-operation in transport aircraft, precision-guided weapon, robotics and weapons remote control systems. In particular Russia has already embarked on cooperation in defense field with France, Italy and Germany. As far as military cooperation with latter is concerned, Russian and German representatives are discussing probability of conducting research and advanced development on warheads for missiles, anti-tank grenade launchers, close combat weapon, radars.
Since 2005 Russian experts have been taking part in NATO's working parties on shipbuilding and usage of naval and maritime aircraft. Along with this cooperation Russia participates in military cooperation in the frame of global war on terrorism. Moscow considers this cooperation far broader than arms export-import relations. The Russian experts underline that the cooperation in this field should endorse joint researches, development, manufacturing and implementing of multipurpose counter-terrorism units as well as its training.
The leading role in this field belongs to ROSOBORONEXPORT which actively involves Russian Defense Industry Complex enterprises in work with NATO institutions and with UN Counter-Terrorism Committee. ROSOBORONEXPORT reckons on establishment of good relations with European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency in a long run.
Another far reaching cooperation between Russian Federation and European countries could be subcontracting in the frame of international projects aimed at upgrading of the Soviet made or Russian made military hardware which is still in use mainly in East European countries. In this field Russian specialists can offer deep modernization of military hardware which will meet the current challenges. In a long run the optimal model of bilateral relations is industrial cooperation.
The last but not least cooperation with NATO and European countries is based on use of the “Ruslan” An-124-100 the biggest transport aircraft. NATO is planned to take on lease six aircrafts of this type to deliver bulky military cargo in the interest of NATO troops which are involved in the counter-terrorist operations.
In conclusion it is important to mention that in order to achieve fruitful and long run cooperation between Russia and NATO or European countries the normative basis and regulatory structure should be established and shall guarantee the interests of all participants. In particular confidentiality and information protection agreements as well as intellectual property protection agreements must play the paramount role. As far as Russian legislation is concerned in case if Moscow wants to cooperate with the Western countries in the field of defense technologies and research and development works it should be changed and adapted for this kind cooperation. Currently a lot of offers were done in order to carry out some joint projects and programs in the defense field. However they are limited or bounded by the Russian laws.
To overcome the “legislative barrier” Russia plans, and has already done some steps, to organize “round tables” where leading experts are going to be invited to participate in. At the “round tables” the issues on practical cooperation between Russia and NATO countries can be widely discussed that provides a fast-track solving.
I'd like to express the assurance that all problems regarding the military cooperation between Russia and NATO are going to be solved as two sides express mutual interest in such cooperation that will serve for the benefits of all participants.