'T-90 deal won't affect Arjun production'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 4. The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, today said the purchase of T-90 tanks from Russia will not have any adverse affect on the indigenous production of Arjun main battle tanks.

``We are close to finalising the contract for T-90 tanks but there will be no affect on the indigenous production of our main battle tank Arjun,'' the Defence Minister, back from a visit to Russia, told reporters here today. Orders for the manufacture of 124 Arjun tanks have already been placed and serial production begun.

Mr. Fernandes said Russia and India could become partners in developing avionics for the SU-30 MKI - one of the world's premier air defence fighter jets. Talks are at the initial stage for technology transfer for licenced production of 140 SU-30s by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the agreement could be extended to jointly developing avionics which comprise one-third of a fighter jet's cost.

The Minister said the two sides decided to raise the level of institutionalised mechanism of defence cooperation through a joint commission on military-technical cooperation at the Ministerial level. The commission would be co-chaired by the Defence Minister and the Russian Deputy Prime Minister. The two sides hoped the commission would increase military cooperation and accelerate decision making.

During the exchange of views on regional and international issues with the top Russian leadership including the President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, and the Defence Minister, Marshal Igor Sergeyev, both sides reflected on developments in parts of the world which did not respect the basic principles of international law or the principles of the U.N. charter. The two sides particularly took note of international terrorism and religious extremism which were seeking to destabilise Asia and other parts of the world.

In response to a question, Mr. Fernandes said there was ``visible concern'' on the part of Mr. Putin and his Deputy Prime Minister over U.S. plans to test the ballistic missile shield three days from today and felt the U.S. should ``give up this exercise''. If its test of shooting down a missile by another is successful, the U.S. was likely to go ahead with the first phase of national missile defence system by 2005.

``They felt the U.S. plan may alter the balance of power in the post-Cold War era. The Russians have categorically stated that this will cause far too many problems than cannot be visualised at this point of time,'' he observed.

Clarifying his statement on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in Tokyo, Mr. Fernandes said the Government was attempting to evolve a consensus on the issue. ``We hope it will be discussed among parties and in Parliament during the monsoon session,'' he said.

`Cut dependence'

PTI reports:

Earlier, speaking after inugurating a conference of general managers of the 39 ordnance factories in the country, Mr. Fernandes called for firm time schedules for indigenisation of defence equipment and identifying areas to involve the private sector to meet requirements for domestic consumption and exports.

``We should take concrete steps to produce at least the spares for all imported defence items, even though they are sophisticated, and reduce our dependence on foreign sources,'' he said.

Referring to the post-Pokhran sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other developed nations, he said it was ``disturbing'' to note that Indian defence production units did not have the capability to produce spares for the Navy's Sea Harrier planes and Sea King helicopters or repair them.

``We had to send them to Britain, which had produced them, and till now these aircraft are lying there. It is a serious matter and also that of urgency,'' Mr. Fernandes said.

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