INDIA AND RUSSIA ENTER JOINT COOPERATION PACTS FOLLOWING DEFENCE MINISTER MR MULAYAM SINGH YADAV'S VISIT TO RUSSIA

A high-level committee, under the chairmanship of Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister has been set up, which will study the defence purchases, with a view to eliminate corruption in defence deals, the Defence Minister said.The issue of defence hardware purchase from Russia will figure at the next bilateral joint working group (JWG) meeting on military-technical cooperation scheduled to be held in Moscow next month.The JWG meeting, which from the Indian side will be headed by Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar, will also discuss issues related to joint production and technical development of defence equipment.The present Indian wish-list, which is expected to be finalised at the next JWG meeting includes purchase of two Project 877 submarines worth $ 800 million each, Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, three frigates and four Kamov-30 airborne early warning helicopters. Other items include tanks and self-propelled artillery.Ajit Kumar said India would be building an air defence ship to replace the decommissioned INS Vikrant and that the MiG-21 Bis upgrade programme for Indian Air Force was ``on track.'' Replying to a specific query on upgradation of MiG-21, Ajit Kumar said the upgradation of the two MiG-21s, sent to Russia some months ago, was almost complete and the programme was `on track.' ``Once the upgraded fighters come back, we will go into production soon,'' he added.Discussions were under way on manufacturing Su-30 fighters by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the press was informed. Yadav evaded a direct reply when asked to comment on the perceived dangers of Russia withdrawing from a defence deal despite its offer to sell top-of-the-line weapon systems to India. He also declined to comment on whether the Russian MiG-AT advanced trainer would be considered for the purchase for the air force's requirement. He said he had held wide ranging discussion with Russian officials in Moscow which included Russian offers for the sale of defence hardware, India's interest in buying certain equipment, joint research, development and production as also supply of spares. ``Specific issues will be decided in the JWG meting,'' he repeated.The Defence Minister and senior ministry officials, however, did not spell out whether the possibility of joint production of MiG-AT, an advanced jet trainer, and purchase of frigates, K-30 helicopters, missile systems and two Project 877 submarines from Russia were discussed during the visit. ``The negotiations on buying advanced military equipment from Russia will be decided by the joint working group. We went to Russia to discuss defence policy related matters,'' Yadav said.Yadav reiterated that resource crunch would not come in the way of purchasing defence equipment and did not rule out the possibility of moving a supplementary defence budget in the winter session of the Parliament.``We will increase the defence allocation as and when required,'' Yadav emphasised.He said that the Russian leaders also briefed him about the ``broad parameters'' of the on-going reforms in the structure of arms export framework in that country. He said the restructuring exercise, soon to be completed, would further stimulate the process of bilateral cooperation and there would be ``no negative impact.''Yadav said his visit to Russia was successful in terms of reviewing and considering policy matters related to defence cooperation and reaffirming India's friendship with Russia.Yadav said, ``They are willing to give us whatever we need, including high-tech equipment.'' The Russians had spoken about ``cooperation in every sphere,'' he added.Meanwhile, according to reports from Russia, India has shown keen interest in purchase of four IL-78 ``flying tankers'' for its state-of-the-art Su-30 aircraft, two Project 877 Kilo class submarines, top-of-the-line S-300 PMU-1 and Tunguska anti-missile air defence systems.Incidentally, a demonstration of the IL-78 tankers refuelling Su-30 aircraft was made to Air Marshal A. Y. Tipnis, Vice Chief of Indian Air Force and other senior Indian officials at the Russian air force base Kubinka, near Moscow during their visit.next year, Defence Minister Mulayam Singh said while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on October 10 on his return from R@сяynext year, Defence Minister Mulayam Singh said while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on October 10 on his return from Moscow. A committee, under the chairmanship of Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister has been set up, which will study the defence purchases, with a view to eliminate corruption in defence deals, the Defence Minister said.The issue of defence hardware purchase from Russia will figure at the next bilateral joint working group (JWG) meeting on military-technical cooperation scheduled to be held in Moscow next month.The JWG meeting, which from the Indian side will be headed by Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar, will also discuss issues related to joint production and technical development of defence equipment.The present Indian wish-list, which is expected to be finalised at the next JWG meeting includes purchase of two Project 877 submarines worth $ 800 million each, Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, three frigates and four Kamov-30 airborne early warning helicopters. Other items include tanks and self-propelled artillery.Ajit Kumar said India would be building an air defence ship to replace the decommissioned INS Vikrant and that the MiG-21 Bis upgrade programme for Indian Air Force was ``on track.'' Replying to a specific query on upgradation of MiG-21, Ajit Kumar said the upgradation of the two MiG-21s, sent to Russia some months ago, was almost complete and the programme was `on track.' ``Once the upgraded fighters come back, we will go into production soon,'' he added.Discussions were under way on manufacturing Su-30 fighters by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the press was informed. Yadav evaded a direct reply when asked to comment on the perceived dangers of Russia withdrawing from a defence deal despite its offer to sell top-of-the-line weapon systems to India. He also declined to comment on whether the Russian MiG-AT advanced trainer would be considered for the purchase for the air force's requirement. He said he had held wide ranging discussion with Russian officials in Moscow which included Russian offers for the sale of defence hardware, India's interest in buying certain equipment, joint research, development and production as also supply of spares. ``Specific issues will be decided in the JWG meting,'' he repeated.The Defence Minister and senior ministry officials, however, did not spell out whether the possibility of joint production of MiG-AT, an advanced jet trainer, and purchase of frigates, K-30 helicopters, missile systems and two Project 877 submarines from Russia were discussed during the visit. ``The negotiations on buying advanced military equipment from Russia will be decided by the joint working group. We went to Russia to discuss defence policy related matters,'' Yadav said.Yadav reiterated that resource crunch would not come in the way of purchasing defence equipment and did not rule out the possibility of moving a supplementary defence budget in the winter session of the Parliament.``We will increase the defence allocation as and when required,'' Yadav emphasised.He said that the Russian leaders also briefed him about the ``broad parameters'' of the on-going reforms in the structure of arms export framework in that country. He said the restructuring exercise, soon to be completed, would further stimulate the process of bilateral cooperation and there would be ``no negative impact.''Yadav said his visit to Russia was successful in terms of reviewing and considering policy matters related to defence cooperation and reaffirming India's friendship with Russia.Yadav said, ``They are willing to give us whatever we need, including high-tech equipment.'' The Russians had spoken about ``cooperation in every sphere,'' he added.Meanwhile, according to reports from Russia, India has shown keen interest in purchase of four IL-78 ``flying tankers'' for its state-of-the-art Su-30 aircraft, two Project 877 Kilo class submarines, top-of-the-line S-300 PMU-1 and Tunguska anti-missile air defence systems.Incidentally, a demonstration of the IL-78 tankers refuelling Su-30 aircraft was made to Air Marshal A. Y. Tipnis, Vice Chief of Indian Air Force and other senior Indian officials at the Russian air force base Kubinka, near Moscow during their visit.