Russia and India agreed Tuesday on a series of defence and nuclear deals potentially worth billions of dollars and pledged to deepen co-operation on counter-terrorism and regional security. The agreements surrounded talks in New Delhi between visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh, during which both sides set a target of doubling bilateral trade to 20 billion dollars by 2015.
They also signed a contract envisaging the joint design and development of fifth-generation fighter aircraft with stealth capabilities. Although no figures were mentioned, experts say the final fighter deal could be worth close to 30 billion dollars, with India planning to induct up to 300 of the aircraft into its air force.
The two leaders also discussed plans for Russia to build two additional generating units at a nuclear power plant in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where it is already setting up two reactors. Energy-hungry India is one of the world's biggest markets for nuclear technology with plans to reach a nuclear power capacity of 63,000 megawatts by 2032, from the current level of 4,560 megawatts.
Hailing what he described as a "special and privileged" strategic partnership, Singh said Russia was a "time-tested friend ... that has stood by us in our times of need in the past." Medvedev arrived in India on Tuesday, seeking to fend off growing international competition for lucrative Indian defence contracts that were once monopolised by Moscow. Medvedev was also expected to use his visit to lobby India to select Russian-made MiG-35s for a 12-billion-dollar contract for 126 fighter jets.
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