Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft deal worth 25 billion US Dollars and leasing of Akula-II nuclear submarine are likely to top the agenda when India and Russia hold their annual talks on defence cooperation in New Delhi on Thursday. India plans to get 250 of the fighter jets for the Air Force, while the nuclear submarine will be leased by the Navy for 10 years to train its personnel before INS Arihant indigenous submarine joins the fleet. Defence Minister A K Antony and his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov will meet for the 10th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) to discuss a range of issues.Serdyukov, who will be co-chairing the Commission along with Antony, is arriving in New Delhi tomorrow accompanied by a large delegation of Russian defence ministry and industry representatives.A Defence ministry statement said,the two Defence Ministers are also expected to discuss regional and global security issues including jointly developed hypersonic BrahMos missile. The two sides also have agreements for India to produce T-90 tanks for its army under licensing. India would be having 1,640 T-90s in service by 2020.Recently, India's HAL signed a contract with the Russian Rosoboronexport for joint development of multi-role transport aircraft.
News On AIR | October 5, 2010 8:23 PM
India, Russia to hold annual defence cooperation talks