NEW DELHI : Russia is in "advanced" negotiations with India on weapons and equipment worth $10 billions, head of a high-level Russian delegation Vyatcheslav Dzirkaln said here on Thursday.

By offering several high-end military platforms, Russia would be attempting to gain the "lost ground" in recent years to Israeli, French, British and American companies.

The proposals being considered by the Indian side include an anti-missile defence shield for the entire country, technology transfer for indigenous production of 1,000 tanks, development and production of medium transport aircraft and conceptual work on a fifth generation fighter aircraft. Russia also proposes to sell submarines and help India develop an aero-engine.

Partner in major projects

"We are going to partner India in all the major projects. Russia is an ideal partner for strategic projects as it does not put political or any other limits in cooperation with India," said Mr. Dzirkaln. The costliest project would be the missile defence shield that entails setting up an air defence system. The equipment offered includes the S-300 missile in different modifications. Russia has also asked India to consider modernising its existing air defence systems.

"There have been tremendous changes and India today is capable of producing not just licensed military equipment but sophisticated weaponry as well. Therefore, we have to reconsider our relations in this field," he told The Hindu . "We also know the weaponry from Soviet Union and later Russia has been exploited to the full. It needs to be modernised. We think India will participate actively in this process."

New relationship

The next step in the "new" relationship with India involves the development of a medium transport aircraft. An inter-governmental agreement to the project is in the offing. Military transport aircraft that would quickly carry troops and equipment in sufficient numbers would be vital ingredients of future wars which would be short, sharp and intense.

The stumbling block at the moment was legal questions. "Although we have signed the agreement on intellectual property rights, all questions of law should be solved."

On co-development of a next generation fighter aircraft, Mr. Dzirkaln said India was evaluating two proposals but Russia was backing Sukhoi's offer, as its plane would be inducted into the Russian Air Force. India and Russia would be the only partners initially.

At the same time, he admitted that delays in supplying spares for Russian and Soviet equipment have been a "big minus." With the setting up of a special company "we hope this problem will be resolved very quickly."

At India's request, Russia had permitted 21 defence companies to directly interact with Indian user services. On submarines, he said India's willingness to fit BrahMos missiles on the Amur submarines would be a "welcome step."

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