Russia and India sign fighter development accord

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and India will jointly modify a fifth-generation Russian fighter aircraft for Indian use under a deal signed on Thursday, Russia's federal service for military and technical cooperation said.

India is one of the biggest buyers of Russian weapons and wants to license the production of Su-30MKI fighter jets and T-90 tanks. Russian shipyards are also building three frigates for India's navy.

State-run Sukhoi corporation will develop the fifth-generation fighter for Russia, and under the accord signed after two days of talks, it will then be jointly modified for India.

There was no comment from either delegation on the value or duration of the agreement.

India's delegation expressed concern in the first day's talks at delays in carrying out other arms accords, including Russia's conversion of the heavy cruiser Admiral Gorshkov into an aircraft carrier.

India and China together account for nearly 90 percent of Russia's arms exports, which totaled $6.4 billion in 2006 and are expected to reach $7.5 billion this year.

Russia's new generation fighter will be finished by 2012-2015, Putin said during his annual televised question and answer session later on Thursday.

The two countries agreed to improve cooperation in arms development and production after Putin made an official visit to India earlier this year.