New Delhi, (PTI): India and Russia will shortlist countries to which the BrahMos missile system, currently under production for the Indian Army and Navy, can be exported.

"Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos has completed development of the missile systems required for the Navy and Army and is currently producing the systems using Indian and Russian industries," Minister of State for Defence Production, Rao Inderjit Singh, has said.

In an interview to the premier journal 'Indian Defence Review', Singh said the Joint Supervisory Council for the project has already identified the countries to which the BrahMos missile system can be exported.

Observing that the product would be exported to "friendly countries", he said "the two governments will shortlist the friendly countries after carefully considering the security requirements of both India and Russia and the strategic relationship with these countries."

Other similar possibilities were being explored with various countries for futuristic systems and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) "will enter into joint ventures, wherever needed and feasible."

Asked about delays in finalisation of procurements, the Minister said the Defence Procurement Procedures adopted in 2006 "would be revised to address some of these concerns."

Singh said though the process has been simplified and the time taken to finalise procurements reduced, there were concerns about delays in some areas.

He said delays were also encountered in the conduct of trials which have to be done in different environments and terrains. At times, there were problems expressed by the vendors to bring the equipment or platform to India for trials.

"In cases where trials under 'single vendor' situation take place, there are problems at the price negotiation state also," the Minister said.

Maintaining that all these factors have been identified, Singh said the Defence Procurement Procedure would be revised to address these concerns.

To questions on the offset policy and whether it was designed to primarily help the public sector with private sector being a "peripherial player", he said he did not agree with the perception and added that the Defence Ministry's offset policy has provided a level-playing field to defence PSUs and the private industry.

"India has not left it to the foreign vendors to decide fields in which they wish to offer offsets. We accept only direct offsets which will strengthen the defence industry," Singh said.

However, freedom has been given to foreign vendors to decide on their Indian partners, he added.

Asked about the grant of Raksha Utpadan Ratna status to select private companies to enable them to participate in defence tenders, the Minister said a Selection Committee has been appointed by the government to recommend Tier-one Indian industry in the private sector for granting such a status.

"The Committee has submitted its report, which is presently under examination," he said.