Russia, India Agree to Joint Military Projects

Meeting in Moscow for the first time under the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation established last October, top Russian and Indian officials pledged during the first week of June to work together on a range of joint military projects. Though Russian and Indian press accounts were filled with reports of major arms deals, the two sides signed no new weapons contracts.

The officials agreed to cooperate on a new fifth-generation fighter aircraft, a multipurpose military transport aircraft, and an air defense system for India, which could include a long-talked-about purchase of Russian S-300 surface-to-air missiles.

India and Russia are also reportedly discussing an Indian buy of three Russian aircraft, which would be fitted with the sophisticated Israeli Phalcon radar system, giving New Delhi an advanced airborne early-warning capability. Russia was involved in a similar arrangement with Israel and China that got cancelled last July when Israel heeded U.S. protests to drop the deal. (See ACT, September 2000.) The Bush administration has not publicly commented on the possible Israeli-Indian deal, but Israeli officials are reportedly staying in touch with Washington on the issue.