Russia has agreed to sell India four advanced Tu-22M3 bombers

Russia has agreed to sell India four advanced Tu-22M3 bombers, Deputy
General Director of Russia's biggest arms exporter Rosoboronexport Viktor
Komardin said Sunday, but because of their high price Russia will first
lease four aircraft to India and subsequently sell them at residual cost,
Komardin said. The two countries will also complete negotiations on a deal
for refueling aircraft and A-50 AEW aircraft this year, he said. (Interfax,
Xinhua, Feb. 11)

Russia Ready to Sell India Tu-22 Bombers

An anonymous, highly place source in the Indian government has reported to the Reuters agency that within the framework of a visit to Delhi which is starting by the Russian Vice Premier Il`ya Klebanov, Russia and India will sign an agreement regarding cooperation in the defense sphere, which, among others, will regulate the sale to the Indian army of Russian bombers and the uncompleted aircraft carrier. Russian officials have reported in connection with the Klebanov trip to India only about his participation in the Russo-Indian intergovernmental commissions for military and technical and trade and economic cooperation.

As is supposed, the Indian side is interested in obtaining from Russia Tu-22 bombers /Blinder in the Western classification/ and Tu-22M /Backfire/, which besides their primary designation they plan to use as long-range maritime reconnaissance airplanes. It also is presumed that the Indian side will ask Russia for a license to build Russian T-90 tanks in India.

Indian authorities still aren`t making any kind of official announcements in this regard. Islamabad also still hasn`t reacted to the reports from Delhi.

It is recalled that the visit of the Russian Vice Premier and Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, Il`ya Klebanov, to Delhi is beginning today and will continue until 8 February.

/Gazeta.RU /
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