M A I N   N E W S

India, Russia sign defence pact

Moscow, January 17
India and Russia today agreed to jointly develop next generation fighter jets and set up defence projects under a “landmark” protocol signed by the two countries but appeared to have made no progress on the sale of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to New Delhi.

“The protocol, a landmark document in our relations, covers all areas of our defence ties,” Defence Minister George Fernandes said after an hour-long meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov here.

The protocol, signed after the two-day meeting of Indo-Russian Inter-governmental Commission (IRIGC) on military-technical cooperation, provides for joint development of a fifth generation fighter for the air forces of the two countries, he told reporters.

It also envisaged setting up several hi-tech joint ventures similar to the “Brahmos” cruise missile, development and production of futuristic weapons and weapon platforms, the Defence Minister said.

He, however, did not say whether the two sides had made a breakthrough with regard to the sale of Admiral Gorshkov to India.

During the two-day session of the IRIGC, co-chaired by Fernandes and Russian Industries, Science and Technology Minister Ilya Klebanov, the two sides discussed the whole gamut of Indo-Russian defence cooperation, including procurement and joint development of hi-tech weapon systems. PTI