Russian, Indian Officials Discuss $10 Billion In Arms Contracts

16 November 2005 -- The Indian defense minister said today that Russia and India are discussing some $10 billion worth of arms sales contracts.

Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee -- who is in Moscow for talks on military cooperation -- met today with President Vladimir Putin.


Mukherjee gave no details on the weapons contracts being discussed, but he also said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to sign a deal on the joint production with Russia of a new cargo plane during a 4-6 December visit to Moscow.


Russia provides around 70 percent of India's arms imports. The two countries have already agreed to jointly produce BrahMos anti-ship missiles and have discussed potential cooperation in the construction of fighter jets.


(AFP/Reuters/ITAR-TASS)

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