Serdiukov: Russia, India Settled Cooperation Problems

06.10.2011 Russian and Indian defense ministries have found remedies for problematic issues of bilateral cooperation, said Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov on Oct 4 after private meeting with his Indian counterpart Arackaparambil Kurien Antony.

According to Russian defense minister, "we have done a lot to realize our agreements since the last meeting in Delhi in Oct 2010 ".

"We have found solutions for numerous problematic issues of Russian-Indian cooperation", Serdiukov said.

As for him, close and trust relations with India are one of the Russia's top foreign policy priorities. "Our strategic partnership is based on concurrence of basic national interests", emphasized the Russian defense minister.

Russia clearly realizes significance of cooperation with India, both for bilateral ties and for international security in general, pointed out Serdiukov.

"India is our strategic partner and the largest importer of Russian military products", Serdiukov stressed.

The minister expressed hope that "Indian leaders also consider development of military cooperation with Russia as one of the key trends of partnership".

As for Serdiukov, this assumption is proved by the agreement on Military Technical Cooperation Program 2011-2020 signed at Russian-Indian summit in Dec 2009. The minister expressed confidence that results of the meeting would give a new impulse to joint work in the area of military cooperation.

In his turn, Indian defense minister A.K. Antony said Russia was a unique and reliable partner for India.

As for him, this is a longstanding friendship, and both countries should not only keep current relations but to expand them in future.

Antony said his visit was preceding the call of Indian Prime Minister to Russia, and expressed hope it would be fruitful.

In particular, Russian-Indian Military Technical Cooperation Program implies 10-year long leasing of nuclear-powered submarine SSN Nerpa to Indian Navy. The contract was signed in 2004, and Delhi appropriated $650 mln for the sub's completion in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

Besides, in Dec 2012 Russia plans to hand over revamped INS Vikramaditya (former Project 1143 aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov) to Indian Navy under the contract signed in 2004, and deliver another 3-ship batch of Project 11356 frigates as was agreed in 2007.

In addition, it is planned to execute export contract for 80 helicopters Mi-17 for Indian Navy in 2013. In the framework of military technical cooperation program, Russia and India work jointly on development of fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and multi-role transport aircraft (???).

Russia and India tied a contract for deck-based fighters MiG-29K to be delivered since 2012. Sixteen airplanes of this parcel will be stationed onboard INS Vikramaditya.