Russia, India sign sweeping arms cooperation deal
NEW DELHI, Nov 5: India and Russia on Friday signed a sweeping agreement for the joint production of Sukhoi-30 fighter jets, missiles, submarines and a vast array of other military products.
"For the first time, a comprehensive document involving all kinds of military cooperation between the two countries was signed," visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Isifovich Klebanov told reporters here.
The military protocol would be the basis for further defence cooperation between the two countries during the scheduled visit of Russian President Boris Yeltsin to India in early 2000, he said.
Klebanov said it was the first time Moscow and New Delhi would be entering into joint ventures for manufacturing new types of weapon systems, adding the two countries would get down to work "swiftly.
"Joint production and development of these systems would take place both in Russia and India," he said, adding they would be exported to third countries willing to buy them.
The agreement also covers joint manufacture of anti-missile systems and airborne early warning systems (AWACS), officials said.
It was signed by Russia's First Deputy Defence Minister N.V. Mikhailov and Indian Defence Secretary T.R. Prasad in the presence of Klebanov and Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes.
When asked if nuclear cooperation also figured during talks with the Indian side, Klebanov said both countries discussed in detail peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
"As far as peaceful use of nuclear energy is concerned, we have a number of areas of common interest," he said.
Klebanov, who has special responsibility for military and industrial affairs, arrived in Delhi on Thursday for a four-day visit, which will include a meeting of the Indo-Russian Group on Military Technical Cooperation.
His seven-member delegation included the minister of atomic energy, and the deputy ministers of defence and trade.-AFP |
