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India will buy more sophisticated weapons including deadly multi-barrel rocket systems from Russia, Defence Secretary Yogendra Narayan told reporters in Moscow ahead of the three-day session of Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on military-technical co-operation beginning later Monday.
"We find Russian weapons up to the mark," Narayan, who is accompanying External Affairs and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh said, adding New Delhi is going to further increase the acquisition of sophisticated weapons including airborne "Awacs'' systems, aircraft carrier Gorshkov and 'Smerch' MLRs from Moscow.
Categorically denying that India's stand on the NMD would have any adverse effect on defence co-operation with Russia, Narayan said: "We do not have basic dissonance on the issue of NMD."
According to Narayan India bought military hardware worth $ 10 billion from Moscow in the last four years, including the Su-30mki multi-role fighters, T-90 tanks, kilo class submarines and stealth frigates.
On the issue of 'Awacs', India is holding joint negotiations with the Russians and Israelis, he said. Under the deal Israel will fit its Phalcon radar and control system onboard the Russian plane.
Israel had scrapped a similar deal with China earlier last year under pressure from the US.
The government has set up a committee to give its verdict on 'Gorshkov' after studying 'detailed project report' submitted by Russia, Narayan said.
Over the weekend, joint working groups on military-technical co-operation co-chaired by Narayan and subgroups on aviation, shipbuilding and landforces co-chaired by Defence Production Secretary Subir Datta held their meetings to pave the way for the inter-governmental commission to be co-chaired by Jaswant Singh and Russian Vice Premier Ilya Klebanov.
In what is seen as a 'breakthrough', Russia has agreed to address India's grievances regarding the pricing of Russian spares and equipment and has expressed readiness to provide the prescribed price lists and catalogues.
A joint working committee to set a 'pricing philosophy' has been agreed upon, to avoid a situation where same items through different outlets are priced differently.
Russia has also reacted positively to India's request for 'direct interaction' with original equipment manufacturers by-passing the state agency 'Rosoboronexport'.
Both countries have also agreed to work out a 'model contract document' to avoid lengthy process of negotiations on future arms deals.
India has sought help from Russia in training naval personnel for operating new frigates under construction in Russia.
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