NEW DELHI, 7 February 2005 — India and Russia are close to formalizing a $450 million arms contract, Russia’s largest arms deal for ground forces since 2001. Negotiations for Smerch (Tornado) Multiple Launch Rocket System deal have been on for the past nine years. While greater part of assessment and negotiations is through, minor parameters are expected to be taken care of in less than a few months’ time, sources said.
When India became aware of the need for Smerch during the Kargil crisis, momentum for the deal picked up during the post-Kargil phase. “Rosoboronexport,” Russia’s state arms exporting agency had formally offered Smerch to India in 1998.
An Indian military expert said: “If we had Smerch during Kargil crisis, we would have flattened the Tiger Hill in one volley, for which we had to sacrifice many lives.”
