MOSCOW, January 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, and the Indian Defense Ministry have signed a contract to deliver Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems for two Indian army regiments, a company official said Monday.
"Rosoboronexport and the Indian Defense Ministry signed a contract on the delivery of two regiments of the Smerch MLRS to the Indian army on December 31, 2005," said Viktor Komardin, the deputy director-general of Rosoboronexport.
The 9K58 Smerch 300 mm MLRS is designed to destroy a variety of targets, including combat vehicles, artillery units, tactical missiles, air defense systems and landed helicopters as well as command posts, communications centers and defense-industry facilities. It has a 90-km firing range and can cover a 70-km area with a 12-tube salvo.
Russia's Vedomosti newspaper reported last year that India would buy no fewer than 36 multiple-launch rocket systems for about $450 million.
With the signing of the contract, India will become the third country to receive the Smerch MLRS. Russia delivered 18 systems to Algeria in 1999 and 27 systems to Kuwait in 1995-1996.
According to the Defense Ministry, Russia is currently working on contracts with India worth $10 billion.
Notable deals in recent years include a contract for the modernization and sale of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, and deals on Sukhoi fighters and T-90 main battle tanks.
