MOSCOW: Russia is and will remain India's largest and most secure source of defence hardware, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday.

The ongoing deals with Moscow ran into almost $9 billion, he said at the opening of the fifth session of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) on military-technical cooperation here. A 10-year defence cooperation programme between India and Russia till 2010 included more than 200 projects worth $20 billion, the Russian Defence Ministry said, ahead of the meeting. More than half of these projects were carried through and the rest would be undertaken in the next four years.

"Defence ties are robust and will remain so," Mr. Mukherjee said. "Despite India's growing ties with many other countries, including in defence, India will not give up its time-tested and strategic partnership with Russia."

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said the defence ties were "a key component of their strategic partnership." Defence cooperation was progressing stably and had good prospects for the future. During his three-day visit, Mr. Mukherjee will finalise an Intellectual Property Rights agreement to protect defence secrets. The pact, to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Russia early next month, will remove what Moscow described as the main roadblock to a massive transfer of advanced defence technologies to India. Mr. Mukherjee will meet President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss the defence-related agenda for the December bilateral summit.

Spares supply for IAF

Sandeep Dikshit writes from New Delhi: Having obtained a briefing from the Indian Air Force, Mr. Mukherjee's delegation is expected to insist, in its talks with the Russians, on a steady supply of quality spares and assistance in replacing some high accident-prone technologies in the largely Russian fleet. Though Rosboronexport, sole Russian agency for defence exports, has set up an outlet in the country to cater for naval ships and plans to extend its service to the IAF, India wants a more reliable relationship. Russia has already addressed a key area of concern. Its Finance Ministry gives a ``comfort letter'' for ensuring adherence to the delivery schedule and New Delhi will encash it in lieu of penalty.

The two sides will touch upon a Russian proposal for jointly manufacturing a medium aircraft, which can be configured for passenger and cargo roles. The IAF's 100-strong medium cargo fleet is ageing and India is weighing the options of modernising it or purchasing new planes. The makers of MiG series are also interested in acquainting Mr. Mukherjee with a new fighter version while India will enquire about a second modernisation programme for MiG-21s. India and Russia will discuss classified issues including a review of the production capability of the BrahMos cruise missile. Both sides are interested in ramping up production to 400 missiles each year and have already committed funds.

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