Context

 In the 5th India Russia military industry conference held during the Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow, 14 MoUs were signed between Indian and Russian companies.

Details

 Much of Indian military equipment is sourced from Russia. There is a lack of timely spares and support for such equipment. The MoU will address the issue of regular spares and support for Russian military equipment which are currently being used by the armed forces in India.

 It will cover joint ventures covering a range of equipment from modern T-90 tanks to legacy Pechora air defense systems (surface-to-air missile system).

 Under the proposed Indo-Russian Joint Venture ICT Center of Excellence, there are also agreements on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain and robotics based on Russian technologies.

 One important MoU was signed between the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and the Almaz Antey of Russia for exploring the feasibility of establishing a joint venture in India for the production of various subsystems of “air defense missile systems like Tunguska, Kavadrat, the OSA-AKA, Pechora air defense system as well as the Shilka self-propelled air defense gun system”.
o The MoU also covered refurbishment and life extension of the missiles