India and Russia will hold their annual intergovernmental meeting

 India and Russia will hold their annual intergovernmental meeting Oct. 3-5 in Moscow to discuss defense cooperation and joint development programs.

Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony will lead a defense delegation and co-chair the 11th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation with his Russian counterpart, A.E. Serdyukov.

During the 10th meeting, the two countries agreed to jointly develop a fifth-generation fighter aircraft for the Indian and Russian air forces. The 11th meeting will review progress and focus on how to advance the project, said an Indian Defence Ministry official.

"Besides regional and global security issues, the two sides will also review the progress of important ongoing projects such as the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, delivery of frigates and Multi-Role Transport Aircraft," a Defence Ministry release said. "The two sides will also deliberate upon aspects relating to licensed manufacture and maintenance of T-90 tanks and Su-30 MKI aircraft in India."

The two sides will discuss how to speed up the building of missile frigates for the Indian Navy, the official said. Russia and India signed a $1.6 billion contract to build three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for India in 2006. The first frigate was scheduled for delivery in April 2011, but has now been delayed.

The Russian side will offer a glance at the upcoming Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) by holding a test flight for Antony and his delegation, the release said.

In July, India sent a delegation of officers and technicians to Moscow to witness the first display of the Sukhoi T-50 in Moscow at the MAKS Air Show. Both India and Russia proposed to manufacture about 500 FGFA to meet the needs of both the Indian and Russian air forces.

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