Anatoly Serdyukov is scheduled to preside over a two-day session of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission for military-technical cooperation together with his Indian counterpart, A. K. Antony.
The participants are expected to discuss the implementation of a joint program for military-technical cooperation up to 2010 and preparations for its further extension.
The current program comprises about 200 joint projects, including the modernization of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier (formerly the Admiral Gorshkov) for the Indian navy, the transfer of technologies for licensed assembly of T-90 tanks in India, the production of BrahMos missiles and the purchase of Smerch MLRS by India.
The commission sessions are held annually and in alternate capitals, either New Delhi or Moscow. The previous meeting took place in the Russian capital in October 2007.
The Russian minister will also visit Agra in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh where India's elite military unit, the 50th Airborne Brigade, is stationed.
Russian and Indian airborne troops have conducted joint INDRA anti-terrorism exercises every two years since 2003. The next drills are scheduled for 2009 in India.
Russia's military cooperation with India goes back nearly half a century, and the Asian country accounts for about 40% of Russian arms exports.
