New Delhi, February 15
After almost three years of long drawn price negotiations, India and Russia today finally sealed the $ 600 million T-90 tank deal and also signed agreements for the production of the battle tanks and its weapon systems in the country.

The three agreements to this effect were signed in the presence of visiting Deputy Prime Minister Iilya Klebanov and Defence Minister George Fernandes at South Block here. Before the deal was struck the two ministers were closeted in an hour-long one-on-one meeting. Later the visiting Russian delegation held talks with the Indian Defence Ministry officials.

The deal for the purchase of 310 T-90 tanks, which itself has been mired in controversy with even former Prime Minister Deve Gowda casting his doubts over it, specially as the main battle tanks had not been used by the Russian army itself, came after the Indian negotiators insisted that Russia bring down the price of the tanks.

The purchase has been part of the $ 3-billion defence deals which were agreed in principle during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit in October last.

For the past two years, India and Russia have been holding talks on the T-90 which also underwent desert trials in Rajasthan although formal approval by the government for the purchase was given in April last year. The deal was given a push when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India in October last year and a memorandum of understanding was signed.