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The ‘strategic and military partnership' between India and Russia will get a 10 year extension during the meeting between PM Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, which is slated to take place in December in Moscow.
The foundation for the extension of the treaty till 2020 will be laid by defence minister A K Antony during his visit to Moscow next week, when he will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov.
Russia, which is currently the largest military supplier to India, will be retaining its status for a while, with the 15 billion worth arms contracts and projects, in the pipeline. The relation is being extended just because India has expressed interest for continuing the purchase of Russian military hardware and software.
"During the October 14-15 meeting, Antony will emphasis India's interest in ensuring FGFA's development is completed by 2016 and IAF can begin inducting it by 2017,'' said an official.
