India, Russia to ink new wide ranging defence protocol
New Delhi (PTI): Having sorted out the ticklish issue of cost esclation of weapons systems already contracted for, India and Russia are on course to concluding a new a wide ranging defence protocol for collobration in hi-tech weapons systems.
The cooperation will encompass collobration in futuristic air-launched and ground-to-air missiles, fifth generation fighters, submarines and tigthening up supply of spares for frontline Russian weaponary being used by Indian armed forces.
The protocol will be inked during the crucial visit of Defence Minister A K Antony to Russia begining from Wednesday, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.
Antony, heading a high-level delegation which includes Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and top DRDO and armed forces brass, leaves here tomorrow.
India is the biggest market for Russian weaponary worldwide, with armament sales touching almost 10 billion dollars a year. Moscow is keen to retain the Indian market in the face of growing competion from US, French and Israeli armament majors.
Defence collobration between Moscow and New Delhi dates back to almost over five decades but clouds had creeped in recently with Russia demanding a cost esclation for weapons systems and platforms already contracted for.
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