India, Russia to discuss defence cooperation tomorrow

New Delhi, Sep 28 (UNI) A broad spectrum of issues, including supply of defence systems, equipment upgradation, product and life cycle support for defence equipment of Russian origin, will be discussed at the eighth meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) being held here tomorrow.

The meeting will also discuss licensed and joint production, joint development and production of systems and platforms, interaction between the two armed forces and military technical cooperation.

Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov will participate in the meeting, heading a high-powered military delegation.

Mr Serdyukov will co-chair the Commission meeting with the Defence Minister A K Antony.

Mr Serdyukov is visiting India for the first time as the Russian Defence Minister.

During his three-day stay in India, he would be visiting the Brah-Mos Aerospace Complex in the capital, besides the Para Brigade of the Army in Agra.

IRIGC-MTC was established in 2000 with a view to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.

India and Russia share long standing friendly relations.

Since the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries in 2000, the two governments have steadily developed and strengthened bilateral cooperation covering a range of areas of which defence forms a significant component.

UNI SH SK KP1822