Russian compensation for Tunguskas

Upon arrival in India the Tunguskas were found to have been used. The money is expected to be paid in the form of additional training equipment for the Tunguskas. This is likely to include simulators, say MoD officials.

The MoD had initially contracted for two batteries of Tunguska, totalling 12 systems.

But the first battery that arrived in the country comprised systems that had been used by the Russian armed forces, most notably in Chechenya.

"Some even had bullet holes in them," said an Air Defence Artillery (ADA)officer.

This led to the suspension of the contract with the Russians, and the subsequent price negotiations. While the remaining battery was not picked up by India, the MoD forced Rosvoorouzhenie to enter into negotiations, and ultimately prevailed over them.

"In this case the MoD has been totally with us. They really struck a hard bargain", said the ADA officer.

The Tunguska-M1 is a gun/missile air defence system capable of interdicting aircraft, helicopters as well as engaging ground targets. Designed by KBP Instrument Design Bureau at Tula, in Russia, the Tunguskas are manufactured at Ulyanovsk. While its 9M311-M1 missiles are used for aircraft at long-ranges, the 30mm guns are capable of interdicting low-level helicopters and ground targets. The 34 ton Tunguska-M1 system moves on a tracked vehicle with a multi-fuel engine, and hydro-mechanical transmission and hydro-pneumatic suspension. It has a crew of four who also operate the target acquisition and tracking radars, the digital computing systemsand navigation equipment.

The two Tunguska-M1 batteries are expected to cost in the region of Rs 400 crore each. And as far as the operational deployment is concerned, the batteries are likely to distributed amongst the two armoured divisions.

"We are going to have one battery with the 1st armoured, and the other with 31 armoured division," said the ADA officer.

Being the key elements of the strike formations, the two armoured divisions are going to be the most vulnerable, as well as being the most high value targets, to aerial attacks in any conventional war. For armoured thrusts to be successful, therefore, an efficacious air defence cover is vital. In this scenario, say armoured corps officers, a tracked vehicle is essential. This allows the Tunguskas to keep pace with the other armoured vehicles in the division, and in the various terrain conditions they would have to operate in.