Russia, India Discuss Military Ties

Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony (left) and his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Serdyukov, pose with documents after agreement signing in New Delhi on October 10.

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov says Moscow has passed to its Indian partners the contract to supply an additional batch of 42 Su-30MKI jet fighters.

Talking to journalists after attending a session of the Indian-Russian intergovernmental military cooperation commission in New Delhi on October 10, Serdyukov said production of the fighter of joint Russian-Indian design might begin by 2020.

Serdyukov also said that, in accordance with bilateral agreements, India will receive about 1,000 Russia-India-designed BrahMos missiles.

The minister also said Russia's "Vikramaditya" aircraft carrier, formerly the "Admiral Gorshkov," would be handed over to the Indian Navy in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Serdyukov noted that joint Russian-Indian naval exercises will be held soon off the Indian port of Mumbai.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Reuters