India, Russia to boost defence co-operation

RELATED NEWS FICCI moots strategies to double Indo-Russian trade Indian plans to fly to Guangzhou, Melbourne Giving affordable wings to Indians Nifty BSE | NSE 25/05/12 Are Mutual Funds betting on Nifty?

An Indo-Russian defence co-operation proposal for a $600-million (about Rs 2,700-crore) multi-role transport aircraft (MRTA), with equal contribution, is all set to be firmed up, along with Indian role in the fifth-generation fighter aircraft that Russia is working on.

The two proposals - either as agreement or intent - are due to be signed during the current high-level Russian visit to the country.

It also wants to pitch its MiG-35 fighter for the IAF tender. Another plan is to sign up ISRO in its GLONASS navigation satellites project. ISRO could be building and launching these satellites.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Mr Sergey Ivanov, who has arrived in the country ahead of his President, Mr Vladimir Putin, said in Bangalore that "appropriate decisions on the MRTA would be put to paper very soon, now that the Indian Government has taken a final decision about participating in the project. We now have to prepare specific contracts," he said after witnessing flight displays of HAL aircraft.

He said the Russian visit had three priorities: The joint development and production of the MRTA, which he hoped would be signed in the next two days. The others were the upgrading of Russian-made fighter planes; and the co-development of the fifth-generation fighter.

Cotnd. on page 2 .........