"First of all I would like to mention the joint production and development of multi-role transport aircraft," said Ivanov, who is also defence minister.

"Within a couple of days we will be able to sign a document with regard to cooperation in this area," said Ivanov, kicking off his own five-day visit to India.

"The second area is the upgrade of Russian-made Sukhoi 30 MKi aircraft and MiG 29 fighter and finally joint collaboration in the production of the fifth-generation fighter," Ivanov said.

Russia accounts for the supply of more than 70 percent of India's military hardware. But tardy delivery and a prolonged row over ruble-rupee trade have prompted India to shop for Western arms from countries including Britain, France, Israel and the United States.

Russia says it has sold arms worth 10 billion dollars to India in the past five years and that deals worth a similar sum were in the pipeline.

India, which sees neighbours Pakistan and China as threats even though ties have improved, is updating its defence equipment after decades of neglect.

India's military, the world's fourth largest with around 1.3 million people in uniform, aims to buy new fighters and trainer jets, submarines, radar equipment and weaponry.

Ivanov, who noted that military and technical cooperation between the two nations started 44 years ago, said he also discussed with Indian aircraft manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the possibility of joint production of helicopters and aeroplane engines.

He said India has "made clear its intention" to participate in the fifth generation fighter aircraft being developed by Russian warplane manufacturer Sukhoi slated to take to the skies in 2009.

"Russia stands ready to involve India in this project," Ivanov said.

On an Indian plan to export missiles, particularly the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile developed jointly with Russia, he said Russia would have "nothing to do with putting obstacles on the sale of Bramhos missile to some specific Third World countries."

Ivanov added Russia would actively participate in the Indian Air Force tender for 126 multi-purpose fighters, a contract valued at close to 10 billion dollars.

The tender by the Indian air force puts Lockheed's F-16 warplane and Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet up against fighters from Russia, France and Sweden.

earlier related report
Russian Planemaker MiG Hopes To Win Indian Fighter Tender
Bangalore (RIA Novosti) Jan 22 - Russian aircraft manufacturer MiG hopes to win a tender to supply fighters for the Indian Air Force, the company's general director said Monday. India earlier announced a tender for the acquisition of 126 light fighters for its Air Force worth about $4 billion.

"We are ready to supply more than a hundred MiG-35 fighters to India," said Alexei Fedorov, who is visiting India as part of the Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Fedorov said it was impossible to give an accurate estimate of the tender's actual value because most of the aircraft under the future contract would be license-manufactured in India.

Russia's MiG-35 will compete with U.S., Swedish and French jet fighters in the Indian tender.

"It is hard to estimate our chances to win the tender because the competition is very strong," Fedorov said, adding that the MiG-35 features a number of competitive upgrades, including improved avionics, advanced weaponry and a new pulse Doppler radar.

The MiG-35, an export version of the MiG-29M OVT (Fulcrum F), is a highly maneuverable air superiority fighter, which was shown for the first time in August 2005 during the MAKS Air Show outside Moscow.

The fighter is powered by RD-33 OVT thrust vectoring control engines. The RD-33 OVT engines provide superior maneuverability and enhance the fighter's performance in close air-to-air engagements.

The existing Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation program until 2010 lists up to 200 projects, worth about $18 billion, a Russian military official said earlier.

earlier related report
Russia And India Plan Titanium Production JV
Bangalore (RIA Novosti) Jan 22 - Russia and India plan to form a titanium production joint venture, the Russian defense minister said Monday. "An agreement on the formation of a Russian-Indian joint venture for the production of titanium dioxide and other titanium products using funds received from India's repayment of its debt to Russia is planned to be signed during the Russian president's visit to Delhi," Sergei Ivanov, who is also Russia's deputy prime minister, said.

India's debt to Russia is about 40 billion rupees ($900 million) and the countries have been in talks on investing the debt in joint projects in India rather than traditional purchases of Indian products.

Ivanov said the world's leading titanium producer Vsmpo-Avisma, which is based in the Perm Territory in the Urals and controls a third of the world's titanium market, had confirmed its readiness to consider forming a joint venture with India to produce titanium, which is widely used in military-oriented products. The titanium giant is controlled by Russian arms export monopoly Rosoboronexport.

earlier related report
Russia invites India to join Sakhalin III project
Bangalore (RIA Novosti) Jan 22 - Moscow is interested in Indian capital investment in the Sakhalin III oil and gas project in Russia's Far East, the Russian defense minister said Monday.

Sergei Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister, is currently leading a Russian delegation in India.

"Russia is interested in Indian participation in the Sakhalin III project and the development of the Vankor oil and gas fields in the Krasnoyarsk Territory," he said.

The minister arrived in India ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to the country, scheduled for January 25-26.

Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com