Putin to arrive on working visit on March 12,

File photo of Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will arrive here on March 12 for a working visit during which the two countries are expected to ink three agreements on military technical cooperation, including one on retrofitting the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier that India is acquiring at a final cost of $ 2.35 billion.

A brief statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said Mr Putin would be accompanied by an official delegation comprising senior members of the Russian Government and several business leaders.

"Mr Putin will hold talks with Prime Minister Singh on a range of issues of bilateral interest," it added.

Ahead of the visit, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met here today, with Dr Singh in the chair, and approved the final price of $ 2.35 billion for Gorshkov, which India agreed to buy for its Navy in 2004 and has rechristened as INS Vikramaditya.

The Defence Ministry and Russia's state-controlled arms exporter Rosobornexport are expected to sign a fresh contract on Gorshkov during Mr Putin's visit.

Gorshkov is currently undergoing repairs and refit at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia. The two sides had initially agreed on a price of $ 970 million, but the Russians said the costs had gone up and an additional $ 1.5 billion would be needed. The new price was the subject of extensive negotiations between the two sides.

There is also be a $ 1.2 billion contract on delivery of MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters, reports in the Russian media have said.

Other agreements likely to be signed by two sides are related to nuclear reactors in Kundankulam in Tamil Nadu and the new site of Haripur identified in West Bengal.

Agreements are also likely on the fifth generation fighter aircraft that the two sides are developing jointly as well as on a multi-role transport aicraft, the reports said.

Other areas in which the two countries are cooperating include the licensed assembly of T-90 tanks in India, the production of BrahMos missiles and the purchase of Smerch MLRS by India, the reports added.

NNN