16 December 2011

Indo-Russia summit


Indo-Russia summit

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be attending the Indo-Russia summit, which will focus on expanding nuclear energy cooperation and strengthening long-standing military ties. Russia is preparing to hand over the first of two Akula-II nuclear-powered submarines to the Indian Navy on a 10-year lease that will cost close to $1 billion.

The agreements are most likely to include one on Blocks III and IV at the Koodankulam nuclear plant in southern Tamil Nadu – a propsal to expand the existing Koodankulam plant – and integrate blocks III and IV in the near future, and perhaps go even further for blocks V, VI, VII and VIII.

India and Russia are also expected to sign further agreements on joint development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft and multirole transport aircraft, apart from discussing the progress of the BrahMos missile programme.

Image courtesy: PMO