Putin begins working visit to India

NEW DELHI, March 12, 2010 (RIA Novosti)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin started his working visit to India late on Thursday.

Around 15 documents worth over $10 billion are expected to be signed during the visit, including a nuclear cooperation agreement on the construction of new power units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in southern India.

Putin and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh will also sign a number of military contracts, including an additional contract for the upgrade and retrofitting of the Admiral Gorshkov (INS Vikramaditya) aircraft carrier and a deal on delivery of MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters.

Further agreements will include a fifth generation fighter aircraft project and work on a multi-role transport aircraft.

India has a long history of defense ties with Moscow. The current cooperation program comprises about 200 joint projects, including the transfer of technology for the licensed assembly of T-90 tanks in India, the production of BrahMos missiles and the purchase of Smerch MLRS by India.

By signing the deals the two states expect to boost bilateral trade from $7.5 million in 2009 to estimated $10 billion in late 2010 and $20 billion in 2015.

During the visit, the Russian premier is also expected to meet with Indian President Pratibha Patil and hold an online conference with the Indian cities of Calcutta, Bangalore and Mumbai.

This is Putin's first visit to India as the head of the Russian government. During his two presidential terms, he paid four visits to the country - in 2000, in 2002, 2004 and 2007.

Russia signs $1.5-bln fighter jet contract with India

NEW DELHI, March 12, 2010 (RIA Novosti) 

Russia and India have signed a $1.5-billion contract on the supplies of 29 more MiG-29K carrier-based fighter jets to New Delhi, the head of the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG said on Friday.

"An agreement on supplying an additional set of MiG-29K fighter jets has been signed, the start of supplies is scheduled for 2012," Mikhail Pogosyan said.

The deal was signed during Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi.

Pogosyan said Russia should fulfill the previous contract on supplies of single-seat MiG-29K fighters to India by 2010.

Russia and India signed a contract stipulating the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUBs to India in January 2004. The contract is part of a $1.5 billion deal to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, currently being retrofitted in Russia for the Indian navy.

India's first MiG-29Ks and MiG-29KUBs officially entered service earlier this year.

Analysts believe that India will remain the main purchaser of Russian-made combat aircraft for the next 15 years under existing and future contracts, as the country desperately needs to upgrade its fighter fleet, which includes Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters, but mainly consists of obsolete Soviet MiG-21 models.

India could offer new NPP construction site to Russia

NEW DELHI, March 12, 2010 (RIA Novosti)

Russian company Atomstroyexport has been building two reactors for the plant since 2002 under a 1988 Indian-USSR deal.

India could provide Russia a third site for the construction of new nuclear power plants, Russia's nuclear chief said Friday.

"There is Haripur, there is Kudankulam, and there will be another," said Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia's state-controlled nuclear power corporation Rosatom.

He did not indicate where the new site could be located.

He said a total of 12 nuclear power units are to be built at the first two sites.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said that under the new array of agreements just signed, up to 16 reactors would be built on "three construction sites."

SK Jain, chairman and managing director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), said Wednesday India had "an overall plan up until 2050" and in this context Russian participation was seen as "important."

He added that the cost of the reactors was $1,600 per kilowatt.