As per the draft of the contract, which has been finalised, India will buy 100 tanks and produce 200 more at home under license from Russia. Leadership of both the countries have instructed the negotiators to complete the drafting of the contract at the earliest so that cordial atmosphere is created for President Vladimir Putin's three-day visit to India beginning on October two. The daily said that directions from the Kremlin to speed the drafting of the contract before President Putin's visit to India might cost the Russian defence industry dear. Two sides have already conceded much ground to each other. At first Moscow was in favour of providing 300 finished tanks but later agreed to allow the production of 200 of them in India.
Efforts are on to finalise other big-time defence deals.
Despite talks for over the last seven years, the fate of the aircraft carrier 'Admiral Groshkov' deal still hangs in balance. Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.