The Hindu Business Line : India, Russia to boost defence co-operation

The two sides are understood to have finalised technical and financial committees to decide on the features, funding and management of the Russian fifth-generation fighter project.

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Bangalore Jan. 24 An Indo-Russian defence co-operation proposal for a $600-million (about Rs 2,700-crore) multi-role transport aircraft (MRTA), with equal contribution, is all set to be firmed up, along with Indian role in the fifth-generation fighter aircraft that Russia is working on.

The two proposals - either as agreement or intent - are due to be signed during the current high-level Russian visit to the country.

It also wants to pitch its MiG-35 fighter for the IAF tender. Another plan is to sign up ISRO in its GLONASS navigation satellites project. ISRO could be building and launching these satellites.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Mr Sergey Ivanov, who has arrived in the country ahead of his President, Mr Vladimir Putin, said in Bangalore that "appropriate decisions on the MRTA would be put to paper very soon, now that the Indian Government has taken a final decision about participating in the project. We now have to prepare specific contracts," he said after witnessing flight displays of HAL aircraft.

He said the Russian visit had three priorities: The joint development and production of the MRTA, which he hoped would be signed in the next two days. The others were the upgrading of Russian-made fighter planes; and the co-development of the fifth-generation fighter.

"We are close to concluding a licensing agreement (with HAL) to produce RD-33 engines (for the MiG-35)," the Minister said.

A role in the fifth generation aircraft will pitchfork the country into the frontline of military technology, on a par with the US and Europe.

Business Line learns from those close to the development that the Russian fifth-generation fighter is planned to be ready around 2010-2012.

BIG LEAP IN FIGHTERS

The tentative proposal is to co-develop it with mainly the Sukhoi Design Bureau and HAL. The two sides are understood to have finalised technical and financial committees to decide on the features, funding and management of the project. All it needs is some ironing out of a few outstanding issues, the source said.

The MRTA proposal is meant to meet the needs of their respective air forces, and also for civil use. They are understood to be settling for 145 military and 60 civil transport aircraft, to be produced over the next 4-5 years. Each country would put in $300 million (about Rs 1,350 crore) into the project.

Without elaborating, Mr Ivanov said Russia had already been working on the fifth-generation fighter based on the Sukhoi platform and achieved certain progress. It expects its first flight in 2009. "For some years, India has been making its interest clear about participating in this project.

The Government of India recently made a final decision on the design of this aircraft. The Russian Federation is ready to include India in it. I do believe this issue will be raised at tomorrow's inter-governmental defence cooperation discussions and included in the Russian President's (programme)," Mr Ivanov said.

Russia will very actively participate in the bid for 126 modern fighters for the IAF, for which the RFP (request for proposal) is due to be issued.

"For the first time, the Russian team will take its entry, the MiG-35, outside the borders and present it to India in February (at the Aero India show)," Mr Ivanov said. The bonus would be the production of the aircraft, aeroengines and maintenance in India.

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