To: TobagoJack who wrote (4255 ) 6/4/2001 1:24:47 PM From: Ilaine Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 74559 >>India, Russia Discuss Arms Deals By Vladimir Isachenkov Associated Press Writer Monday, June 4, 2001; 10:54 AM MOSCOW –– Officials from India and Russia met in Moscow on Monday to discuss prospective arms deals, including the planned joint development of a new fighter plane. Indian Foreign and Defense Minister Jaswant Singh and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov hosted a session of the Russian-Indian commission on military cooperation. Klebanov declined to name the types of weapons New Delhi wants to purchase, but said they would help equip India's air defense, air force, navy and ground forces. He also told reporters the two countries plan to sign a contract this year to jointly developing a new-generation of fighter plane and a military transport aircraft, the Interfax news agency reported. He did not provide further details about the proposed planes. Singh said India had signed contracts to buy $10 billion worth of Russian weapons in recent years, Interfax said. Russia is short of funds to develop the costly fighter and officials have said they might pool efforts with another country. Klebanov was the first official to name India as a partner. Since Soviet times, India has been one of the largest customers of Russian weapons, which make up about 70 percent of New Delhi's arsenal. Russian and Indian officials agreed on a series of prospective arms deals when President Vladimir Putin visited India in October. The countries have already signed deals for India to manufacture 140 Su-30 MKI fighter jets and 310 T-90 tanks, worth about $1 billion. The recent Russian-Indian arms deals have raised concern in Pakistan, which is locked in a long-standing conflict with India over the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Pakistan and India have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. <<washingtonpost.com