Russia plans to set up production of Italian armored vehicles, a Russian daily quoted Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov as saying on Tuesday.
GZT.ru said Serdyukov spoke at the presentation of Iveco armor, including Light Multi-role Vehicles (LMV).
A source at the KamAZ automaker confirmed talks were underway on LMV assembly under license at Naberezhnye Chelny, where the Russian plant is based.
He said an assembly line could be set up "in three to four months" with imported components but that it would take several years for production to be fully localized.
He said Russia had already bought at least two LMVs for "testing purposes."
KamAZ declined to comment officially.
In mid-March the Russian Defense Ministry dismissed media reports that it was planning to purchase up to 1,000 Iveco M65 LMVs.
Italian LMVs have been used in Iraq, Afghanistan and other NATO missions abroad, where they have performed admirably.
MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti)
