Klebanov to arrive in Delhi to ink T-90 tank and air safety pacts

Klebanov to arrive in Delhi to ink T-90 tank and air safety pacts
Dadan Upadhyay

Moscow, Feb 11: Russian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of defence industry, Ilya Klebanov will arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday, for a two-day visit, in connection with the signing of accords on the licensed production of T-90 main-battle tanks and aviation safety standards, a source said.

India and Russia signed an agreement on the Russian supply of 320 T-90 tanks, during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi, last year. The deal provided for exports of 124 T-90 tanks and licensed production of another 196 of these tanks, at Avadi in India, for an estimated price of $600 to $800 million.

Klebanov is expected to sign aviation safety agreement with Indian Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav.

The agreement on airworthiness, maintenance, type-certification of aircraft, approval of flight operations and aviation training establishment, provides for measures to remove bureaucratic delays and for harmonization of standards and procedure. During his stay, Klevanov will hold talks with Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra.

The source said that the deal on Russian aircraft career "Admiral Gorshkov" is not yet final. The agreement on "Admiral Gorshkov" involving its purchase was also signed during Putin's visit to India. Russia has gifted the aircraft carrier, which has to be retrofitted and returned to India after it pays for the work.

Issues connected with anti-dumping restrictions on a series of Russian exports to India will also be discussed during Klebanov's visit to India, RIA news agency reported, quoting Russian Ministry for Trade and Development.

Klebanov represents Indo-Russian joint commission as cochairman from theRussian side.