MOSCOW, October 2 (AVN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to sign over 10 agreements on arms exports to India during his five-day visit to that country that is to begin on Monday, a spokesman for the presidential administration told the Military News Agency.
The parties to the forthcoming talks will concentrate on strengthening the strategic partnership of the two states, primarily in military and technical spheres, the spokesman said. They are planning to discuss prospects of such partnership for the period until 2005, he noted.
Among the documents to be signed is an intergovernmental agreement on the supplies of the Admiral Gorshkov heavy aircraft carrier and 46 MIG-29 Fulcrum deck fighters to India. The value of the contract is estimated at over USD1bn. Other agreements envisage supplies of Russia's latest T-90S tanks and licensed production of 200 such tanks at Indian plants, licensed production of SU-30MKI Flanker multipurpose fighters by India and purchase of 18 Smerch multiple launch rocket systems by this Asian nation.
Russia has sold about USD30bn worth of armament to India in the past 40 years. As a result, 70 percent of armament currently used by the Indian Armed Forces was made in Russia or the Soviet Union. India buys about USD1bn worth of armament in Russia every year.
The Russian delegation accompanying Putin includes Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev. His inclusion was made public only on September 28, the day when the minister returned from his vacation.
A source in the Defence Ministry main international military co-operation department told the Agency Sergeyev will meet his Indian counterpart George Fernandez and his deputy Dr. Vasudev Aatre in New Delhi.