Article Posted on : - Sep 23, 2011

The fifth generation fighter aircraft. India and Russia will jointly produce the fighters.

MOSCOW (PTI): India continues to be Russia’s largest strategic partner in military-technical cooperation, the head of Russian state arms exporter has said.

“India, China, Algeria, Vietnam and Venezuela are our leading partners,” CEO of Rosoboronexport Anatoly Isaikin told the Kommersant daily, adding that India is “client No.1” for Russia “for years ahead.”

He underscored that under the long term military-technical cooperation programme, Russia is taking part in various projects, which include joint R&D and joint production.

Isaikin said Russia was currently bidding for 20 tenders floated by India.

“Winning at least half of these tenders is huge luck for any state,” the official said.

He, however, said that failure of MiG-35 fighter in the MMRCA tender was “extremely unpleasant and sensitive” for Russia.

Isaikin expressed confidence that Moscow will retain its leading position in the Indian arms market in spite of entry of new players like the US.