The Indo-Russian joint venture to manufacture 200 Kamov helicopters in India is facing significant delays due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, subsequent Western sanctions on Russia, and post-COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. This has cast a shadow over the project, which was intended to replace the aging Chetak and Cheetah helicopters of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).

Background and Initial Agreement

In December 2015, India and Russia signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to jointly produce Kamov Ka-226T helicopters, with the aim of modernizing the Indian armed forces' rotary-wing aviation. This agreement led to the creation of a joint venture, Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited (IRHL), between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russian Helicopters. The manufacturing facility was planned for Tumakuru, Karnataka, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the site with the aim of boosting domestic defense production under the 'Make in India' initiative. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs of the Government of India formally incorporated the India-Russia Helicopters Limited Company on May 2, 2017.

Impact of the Ukraine War and Sanctions

The Russia-Ukraine war has introduced complex challenges. Western sanctions on Russia have disrupted the supply of critical components, including those sourced from Europe. According to HAL CMD DK Sunil, securing parts has become a major hurdle, as even the helicopter's engine was originally sourced from Europe. Russia is now reportedly testing the helicopters with domestically produced engines.

These disruptions have led to project delays and cast uncertainty on the timeline for the manufacturing and delivery of the Ka-226T helicopters. The original plan included 135 helicopters for the Army and 65 for the IAF. HAL has requested details from the Russian side and is awaiting certification status updates before making further decisions.

India's Response and Shift in Focus

Faced with these delays, HAL is shifting its focus to indigenous platforms, including the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), and the upcoming Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH). The helicopter complex in Tumakuru is already producing LUH and will eventually become the central hub for future rotary-wing production, including the LCH and IMRH. While the Tumakuru facility ramps up production, HAL's Bengaluru division will continue to produce the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv.

Broader Implications for Indo-Russian Defense Cooperation

The challenges with the Ka-226T project highlight broader concerns regarding Indo-Russian defense cooperation in light of the Ukraine war and Western sanctions. While India remains the largest buyer of Russian arms, the conflict has raised concerns about Russia's ability to meet its defense commitments and access critical technologies. Sanctions have also complicated payment mechanisms and access to essential components, potentially impacting other ongoing defense projects.

Despite these challenges, India has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict and continues to engage with Russia on defense matters. However, there's a growing recognition of the need to diversify India's arms procurement and enhance its domestic defense capabilities to mitigate risks associated with relying heavily on a single supplier. This includes exploring opportunities for defense cooperation with other countries, such as the United States, France, and Israel.

Circumventing Sanctions

Despite sanctions, some western companies have been supplying aircraft parts to Russia via India. For example, Airbus subsidiary Satair sent 12 cargoes to an Indian firm between September 2023 and May 2024, and all of them later went to Russian buyers. Similarly, a Czech manufacturer may have been made aware that Indian companies were supplying Czech-made Mi-8 power units to a Russian helicopter factory, but the supplies continued regardless.