Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov held talks Wednesday with Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes to finalize a defense deal which is likely to be worth more than US$1 billion.
Vladimir Ladanov, political analyst in the Russian embassy in New Delhi, said Klebanov held long discussions with Fernandes which would result in the signing of a military protocol with India.
"The military protocol will be signed on Thursday after talks," said Ladanov. "We are hoping for a lot of good things to come from this visit."
According to Russian officials, the two sides are likely to discuss the possible leasing to India of two Russian nuclear submarines capable of firing cruise missiles.
India leased a nuclear-powered submarine, the INS Chakra, from the Soviet Union in 1988.
The military protocol could also signal the joint production of Russian war jets in India as well as the sale of long-range Russian bombers to the Indian air force.
Experts say the whole agreement could be worth in excess of US$1 billion.
There are hopes on both sides that Klebanov's visit will also witness progress on a separate deal for India's purchase of the 44,000-tonne Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.
The estimated two-billion-dollar cost of the carrier would include the vessel built in 1987, the price of a modernization program under way in Russia's northern port of Severodvinsk and the training of Indian crew members.
The deal also includes the construction of port facilities in India capable of receiving the Admiral Gorshkov and the supply of MiG-29K jets that would fill its hangars.
"This is something we are really waiting for," said Ladanov. "We are trying... but I cannot tell you whether we are hot or cold from our goal."
Klebanov said India and Russia were poised "for a quantum jump in military ties" on his arrival in New Delhi on Tuesday for a four-day trip.
"I have brought proposals for a new strategic partnership for joint venture with equal financial stakes in combined research, development and production of high-technology weapons," the deputy prime minister told reporters.
He said both India and Russia must also move beyond weapons sales and join hands to develop the latest weapon systems especially for the navy and the air force.
"India and Russia should venture into the development and production of fifth-generation fighter jets as well as civilian aircraft," he said.
"Ties between old friends India and Russia are very good and are immune to global changes," the deputy Russian premier added.
Klebanov is also expected to discuss economic cooperation with Indian Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.
Klebanov arrived in India one day after the departure of Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who held talks with his Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh and Defense Minister Fernandes.
"This is not a formal axis between the three countries. This should be seen as part of exchange of views of three important Asian countries," foreign ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said.
Strong allies during the Cold War, Russia remains India's main defense supplier, although New Delhi has in recent years begun to look at other overseas markets and has significantly strengthened defense ties with the United States.
(China Daily February 6, 2002)
