A few days before President Barack Obama arrives here and is likely to sign some Defence pacts with India, New Delhi on Wednesday reached out to its most trusted strategic partner Russia to participate in a big way in Defence manufacturing as part of ‘Make in India’ policy of the Modi Government.
This appeal was made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar during his talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu at the annual meeting of the Inter Governmental Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation here.
The two Ministers discussed possible future areas of cooperation in high technology Defence platforms and armament for the three services, Defence Ministry officials said, adding the two leaders also discussed the fifth generation strike aircraft project (FGFA). This project will see joint-design and production of the latest aircraft by both the countries. India plans to buy more than 300 of these aircraft in the coming decades.
The two sides signed an agreement to share flight safety information related to common aircraft being operated by both fleets like MiGs and Sukhois. The issue assumes significance in the backdrop of a few Su-30MKI accidents due to premature ejection of the seats automatically.
“We have discussed all the issues including the FGFA. We have decided to fast track many of the issues. There are some apprehension about the slow pace in execution of the projects. The first thing we have decided is that this slow speed has to be overtaken and a fast track approach has to be initiated in the arrangement,” Parrikar later said. Shoigu visited the BrahMos Aerospace centre here after meeting Parrikar and also called on Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the two Defence Ministers expressed satisfaction over the successful conduct of joint exercises conducted between Army, Navy and Air Force of both sides in 2014. This is the first time that all three services have done joint exercises in a year.
The two sides resolved to continue to meet at regular intervals to carry forward an already robust Defence cooperation between the two countries, the Defence Ministry statement issued after the talks said.