ANTONY 2

The extension of the IRIGC-MTC programme beyond 2010
was earlier discussed by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
during his meeting with then Russian President Vladimir Putin
in Moscow in 2007.

The discussions at the Defence Ministers level will
pave the way for conclusion of the agreement during Singh's
upcoming visit to Russia in December this year for the summit
meeting between him and President Dmitry Medvedev.

The indigenous production of the Russian origin T-90S
tanks at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi under license
from Russia, one of the major on-going projects, in which
Moscow is providing technical and product support for the
indigenous production of tanks will also be discussed at
IRIGC-MTC.

The modernisation of the SU-30MKI air superiority
fighter aircraft is also expected to come up for discussion in
the meeting, Kar said.

The Sukhoi fighter jet, contracted in 1996, are due
for overhaul shortly and the Russians have offered an upgrade
for the aircraft with incorporation of the latest
technologies. (MORE) PTI