Moscow/New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) Russian Deputy Defence Minister Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin held a meeting with Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar in Moscow, during which the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in the defence sector.
“During the talks, the sides discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the defence sphere, confirmed the focus on further strengthening the specialised cooperation in the form of a particularly privileged strategic partnership.
“The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere which is traditional for the Russian-Indian relations,” a Russian Defence Ministry statement said.
The meeting comes amid US President Donald Trump targeting India for the purchase of Russian oil and other trade.
The meeting also comes amid intensified defence cooperation between the two sides. India has opened a BrahMos missile manufacturing unit in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, which is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. It was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 11.
The plant will produce 80 to 100 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles annually, including the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) variant.
PM Modi had referred to it during his address in Varanasi two days ago.
India and Russia are also collaborating in the production of Kalashnikov AK 203 assault rifles in India, with a factory set up in Amethi, UP.
The two countries are collaborating in the licensed production of Russian equipment like T-90 tanks and Su-30 MKI aircraft.
Russia has also supplied India with the S-400 missile systems and MiG-29K aircraft. Besides, the two sides also hold joint defence exercises.
