MOSCOW, June 27 (AVN) - Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev met his Indian counterpart George Fernandes on Tuesday to discuss military and technical co-operation and combating international terrorism.
According to Sergeyev, the Indian military is especially interested in production, modernisation and utilisation of the Russian military aircraft. This is confirmed by their meetings with aircraft designers, heads of project and design organisations, and a visit to the Gromov flight research institute, requested by the Indian party.
Russia highly appraises India's efforts in strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries and is ready to make its own steps in this direction, including in the sphere of military aviation, Sergeyev said.
This year, the Nizhny Novgorod Sokol aircraft plant will make 36 sets of equipment for modernisation of MIG-21bis Fishbed fighters on order of an Indian aircraft producer. The Shturmoviki Sukhogo consortium has drafted and passed to the Indian party proposals on supplies of SU-25UTG-type planes through the Rosvoorouzhenie arms dealer. The MIG-AT plane will continue taking part in the Indian tender for purchasing of new-generation trainers. Contracts on supplying India with 40 MI-17-1V Hip helicopters and SU-30MKI Flanker multipurpose fighters are being successfully implemented.
According to Russian experts, India and China will remain the main purchasers of new Russian military planes in the next 10 years.