India - China: Preparedness along LAC not impacted by Russia Sanction
STORIES, ANALYSES, EXPERT VIEWS
According to defence officials, the Army’s preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, is unlikely to be impacted due to sanctions on Russia.
While the Air Force may have some impact, given its large Russian inventory, Dinakar Peri (Defence Correspondent • The Hindu) writes the Army, mainly the infantry along with its support elements, have least exposure to Russia, one official noted.
The armed forces have also made significant emergency procurements in the last two years since the standoff in eastern Ladakh and have stocked up on spares and ammunition. So, there shouldn’t be any immediate urgency for spares and other requirements, several officials noted.
For the Army, its armoured corps is almost entirely Russian origin but the Infantry has the AK-47 rifles and not much beyond that and similarly the artillery is also quite diversified, officials noted.
The Defence Ministry is assessing the impact the western sanctions on Russia can have on timely supply of spares and support as well as execution of deals in the pipeline, officials said. This also includes looking at the various payment options that would be available in the backdrop of several restrictions imposed by the West on Russia.
For the $5.43–billion S–400 deal, signed in October 2018 and deliveries of which are under way, India and Russia had worked out payments through rupee-rouble arrangement as reported by The Hindu earlier.
