— Photo: Bhagya Prakash. K

Russia's Defence Minister Sergey Borisocich Ivanov with HAL Chairman A.K. Baweja during his visit to HAL in Bangalore on Tuesday.

BANGALORE : Russia is looking for greater cooperation with India in the fields of space, military, nuclear energy and information technology, its Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sergey Borisovich Ivanov told presspersons here on Tuesday.

Both countries were discussing specific contracts to develop advanced fifth generation combat aircraft. Theycould also develop multirole transport aircraft jointly.

The advanced fighter is expected to replace the ageing fighter fleet.

Mr. Ivanov said the Indian side had taken the final decision on the design of the aircraft. The experience of Russia, which was producing a fifth generation aircraft, showed that the cost was huge — billions of US dollars.

The Russian-Indian inter-governmental commission on military-technical cooperation was expected to discuss joint development of the aircraft. It would also be on the agenda of President Vladimir Putin, who is visiting India later this week.

Mr. Ivanov said Russia was convinced that after 44 years of cooperation, there were newer opportunities to strengthen the bond between the countries. Indian software products for armed forces and space programmes, for example, could fill the gaps in the development of aircraft engines of the future.

MiG-35 production

Mr. Ivanov said the advanced Russian MiG-35 combat aircraft would fly out of his country for the first time to take part in the February air show here. India has initiated the process for buying 126 fighters. MiG-35 had a "superb engine" which could be produced and maintained by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, thereby reducing the cost, he said.

India was the only country Russia would engage with in the development of Glonass (Global Navigation Satellite System).

The radio satellite navigation system was Russia's answer to the United States' GPS system.

BrahMos sale

Mr. Ivanov said Russia was not opposed to the sale of BrahMos supersonic missile, developed jointly by the two countries, to specific countries.

He was not for blocking the sale of Japanese fighter aircraft to Pakistan. "We just follow our obligations." There was no change in the country's stand on deploying weaponry in outer space. He was referring to the Chinese threat that it could destroy satellites by deploying missiles in space.

Mr. Ivanov was non-committal on the possibility of Russia supplying nuclear fuel to India. "We take into account all obligations and restrictions." It was in India's interest to fulfil international obligations, he said.

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