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Manmohan, Putin may discuss tender for fighter aircraft

NEW DELHI: During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Russia, the two countries are expected to sign several pacts for providing an impetus to trade, joint research and development in the science, space, nuclear and military sectors and energy ties.

Dr. Singh will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and their discussions are likely to touch on the upcoming mega tender for fighter aircraft, for which Moscow is one of the six contenders, and issues associated with joint development of the next generation fighter aircraft and a medium range military aircraft.

Though recent visits by defence establishment officials have led to a greater appreciation of each other’s constraints which delayed modernisation of the aircraft carrier Gorshkov, India expects initiatives from the highest levels to free the relationship of bottlenecks especially in supply of spares and an unpredictable pricing regime.

The two sides are expected to discuss ways of improving bilateral trade and expanding energy cooperation.

Both sides acknowledge that bilateral trade, at just $2.52 billion, is much below potential.

The change in the pattern of ownership of Rusatom, Russian nuclear power company, has given hope for further cooperation in the atomic power arena. Russia has indicated its desire to set up more nuclear power units at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu.

However, this will be subject to the global community accepting India in the civil nuclear mainstream with India-specific safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency and a unanimous approval by the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group.

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