The transfer of production license for TRDD-50MT engines could never happen actually. Delhi is willing to design a mid-range missile based on Lakshya (on the photo).
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Indian Missiles to Take Off on Russia’s Engines
Russia has made a $100-million contract to deliver to India 200 small engines for unmanned aircraft of NPO Saturn make and intends to pass the production license in the next move. The only hurdle is the possible violation of missile technology nonproliferation.
NPO Saturn has secured an order to make in 2007 around 200 small engines of TRDD-50MT type (up to 500kg engine thrust) for unmanned aircraft, said Vasily Danilov, sales director at NPO Saturn. The sources said the deal budget was around $100 million and the engines would be installed on Indian Lakshya aircraft.
In NPO Saturn, they emphasized that the contract specifies no technology transfer so far, but it may happen in future. “Our partners have mentioned the possibility of the contract's next stage that would provide for producing engines in India,” Danilov said. The value of the license contract could be $250 million to $300 million, according to a source with one of defense enterprises.
It may happen though that the production license for TRDD-50MT won’t reach India, said representatives of Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation. Delhi appears to be willing to design a mid-range cruise missile based on Lakshya, and this action falls under the missile technology nonproliferation.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 26, 2006
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