India invites Russia for defence sector Make in India

New Delhi: India has invited Russia to take advantage of the Make in India initiative in defence manufacturing, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said here Wednesday.

In a meeting between Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Parrikar, the two countries also decided to hold regular review of ongoing projects.

The meeting came following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here last month.

"We have also invited them to come to India and join ventures in manufacturing here, including spare parts for the various platforms we are using.

"We have a substantial quantum of Russian equipments; so for that requirement of spares can also be generated here," Parriakr told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

The minister said discussions included the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircrafts (FGFA), preliminary design agreement on which was signed in 2010 between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russian Sukhoi Design Bureau to build the jet for use by both countries.

"We discussed all issues including FGFA. We have decided to fast track many of the issues. There were some apprehensions in slow speed in execution and the first thing we have decided is to speed things further," the minister said.

Defence ministry officials, meanwhile, said India and Russia have agreed to hold interactions at regular intervals to conform to project deadlines and carry forward the defence cooperation between the two countries.

The two defence ministers resolved to carry forward the understanding reached during the summit meeting in order to further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries.

"The two sides reviewed the entire gamut of defence cooperation. They expressed confidence that the cooperation would be taken forward and be further strengthened," an official statement said.

The two ministers also discussed possible future areas of cooperation in high technology defence platforms as well as armament for the three services.

Besides signing the agreed protocol, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of an agreement on exchange of Flight Safety Exchange Information.