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According to a Moscow report, India has placed $2 billion of missile orders with Russian-Indian joint venture Brahmos, the firm’s managing director was quoted as saying by Russia’s Interfax news agency on Tuesday.

Dr. Sivathanu Pillai, Brahmos CEO, speaking in Moscow, said the total order book for the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile, including supplies to other countries, could reach $10 billion. Dr. Pillai had earlier told Defenseworld.net that his company was negotiating with “friendly countries which are thick friends of India and Russia for the sale of the supersonic cruise missile”.

Based on the success of the Brahmos venture, the two governments are reportedly discussing that the fifth generation fighter aircraft project to be developed by Russia could have an Indian partnership from the basic design stage.

Dr. Sivathanu Pillai,Brahmos CEO and Distinguished Scientist & Chief Controller (R&D), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, India

Brahmos

The joint Russian-Indian development of the Brahmos missile, named after India’s Brahmaputra river and Russia’s Moscow river, is part of growing military co-operation between the countries. India, with the world’s fourth largest military, plans to spend $30 billion on imports over the next four years to modernise its largely Soviet-era arms and assert its military power in South Asia.

An Indian defence spokesman said separately that India and Russia signed agreements on Tuesday to upgrade tanks and fighter jets India bought from Russia over the years.