New Delhi has agreed in principle to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov’s suggestion that both countries should conclude an intellectual property rights agreement on weapon systems. This will be a step forward in expanding military to military co-operation. On reaching New Delhi today, Ivanov said that an early conclusion of such an agreement would lay the foundation for development of many more hi-tech weapons systems jointly by the two countries. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, top bureaucrats and the three service chiefs also sought assurances of lifetime support on Defence equipment from the Russians. Mukherjee met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this evening to brief him ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit on December 3. In his meeting with Ivanov and Russian Navy C-in-C Kuryodov Ivanovich, Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash expressed the need for lifetime support on a large part of the Navy’s Russian-made equipment. These include three Krivak-class stealth frigates, Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft, Kamov-25, 28 and 31 airborne early warning helicopters, Kashin-class destroyers and Kilo-class submarines. Air Force sources said since the IAF’s budget was committed for the next two years, talks between Ivanov and Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy were again mostly about the supply of spares and service to the IAF’s Russian-made fighter fleet. Tomorrow, delegations from both sides are expected to sign protocols under the Indo-Russian Inter Government Commission on Defence Cooperation. Draft protocols were made by the break-up groups on ship-building, aviation and land systems two days ago. The Russian advance team had arrived on November 25. A Defence spokesperson said the demands made by the Indian side was entirely in line with Russia’s insistence on being treated as a market economy. India, Russia to sign deal on GLONASS
