Russia 'not worried' over India buying arms from US: Kadakin

N C Bipindra
Chaubattia (Uttarakhand), Oct 24 (PTI) Describing
India as a "super power in the making", Russia Sunday said it
was "not worried" over Indian armed forces buying military
equipment from the US and pledged its support to see the Asian
giant "strong militarily" apart from economically.
Apart from expressing surprise over US sanctioning
Pakistan with a USD 2-billion military aid just ahead of US
President Barack Obama's visit to India in early November,
Russia also promised that it would give the best military
equipment it has to New Delhi.
"We understand India is a super power in the making
and India can choose which better equipment that suits her.
We do not think in terms of fighting for India's (defence
purchase) orders...fighting with Americans...no. So if you
want those huge cargo planes you can buy them from Americans.
Maybe they are better. We are not worried," Russian Federation
Ambassador to India Alexander M Kadakin said here.
He was interacting with a group of Indian journalists
on his visit here to witnesses the Indo-Russian army exercise
Indra-2010.
"But you are aware that Russia has a multi-faceted and
diverse cooperation in the military field with India. It is
not a secret that in cooperation with India we are producing
the best, supersonic, cruise missiles in the world, the
BrahMos.
"It is not a secret that your submarine fleet is
equipped with Russian submarines. It is not a secret that you
fly our airplanes...not only the old ones, which you are
producing, but also the new razor-edge technologies," he said,
pointing out that his country had chosen India to codevelop
the fifth generation stealth supersonic fighter jets.
Referring to the bilateral agreement for the Fifth
Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) signed between Russian
Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Indian counterpart
A K Antony in Delhi earlier this month, Kadakin said, "Ask the
American if they will sell F-35s to India."
He said the FGFA would be "designed by both India and
Russia and produced in India also," he said it was not just in
fighter aircraft, any other military technology that India
wanted, Moscow was cooperating fully.
"When the Minister was here recently about 10 days
ago, a very important agreement was reached about the new
generation stealth fighter aircraft, which is being designed
by both India and Russia and producd here in India also.
"We have a diverse military relations with India. So,
take any other field...tanks...whatever you take or choose, we
are cooperating. That is so good, because we have always
considered and consider India to be our best friend. (More)
PTI NCB
PBL


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