"We have recently been taking up new forms of co-operation that are not restricted to the trite sell-and-buy formula, but involve joint hi-tech productions, including the production of hi-tech equipment for sales in the third countries," said Ivanov. He arrived in the Indian capital on Tuesday to attend a session of the joint Russian-Indian working group for military, and military and technological co-operation, due on December 1-2.
"The Russian-Indian co-operation has long been based on strategic partnership, the military, and military and technological co-operation are the cornerstone of such partnership," the minister said.
"I think my Indian colleague Pranab Mukherjee and I will have a great opportunity to discuss all issues of military, and military and technological co-operation, interaction in security, including the situation in different flashpoints, above all, in Eurasia, including Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East," the minister said.
Russia has so far concluded long-term military and technological contracts with India to the sum of $5 billion, Ivanov said.
The minister explained that these had been laid down in contracts and would be implemented in the next 5-7 years.
Ivanov also said that, presently, India accounted for about 35% of Russia's total military and technological co-operation.
"In all, the India-Russia trade accounted for $33 billion since 1960," he noted.
The implementation of the Russian-Indian contract for selling the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India is proceeding as scheduled, Ivanov said.
"Three stages of the Admiral Gorshkov contract have been implemented. Several tens of Indian representatives have already examined the work," said the minister. Everything is going according to the schedule, stressed Ivanov.
In 2005, the Russian Armed Forces will receive 18 T-90 tanks.
"The Russian army will purchase 18 T-90 tanks in 2005," said Ivanov, noting that every tank would cost at least several million dollars.
Ivanov added that T-90s were Russia's most modern tanks that have no equals in the world.
