NEW DELHI — Russia and India on Tuesday pledged to share intelligence and work together to fight international terrorism as the two historic allies signed a clutch of agreements including plans to jointly develop a fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
The stealth fighter jet would be the equivalent of the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor aircraft. The supersonic fighter aircraft escapes radar detection and is intended to replace the Indian air force’s aging Soviet-era MiG-29 jets. The new fighter jet is expected to make its first flight in 2016.
During the Cold War, India and the Soviet Union shared a deep relationship, while the United States tilted toward India’s neighbor Pakistan. In recent years, India has moved closer to the United States, but its strategic partnership with Russia has endured.
President Dmitry Medvedev held nearly two hours of talks Tuesday with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hoping to boost trade and investment in both countries. They signed a raft of agreements to deepen cooperation in the defense, nuclear energy, pharmaceutical and information technology sectors.
“Russia is a time-tested friend of India that has stood by us in our times of need,” Singh told reporters after the talks.
Officials from India and Russia also signed an agreement for research and development in nuclear reactor technology and to explore the peaceful uses of atomic energy in the two countries.
Russia currently is building two nuclear reactors in southern India and plans to build two more nuclear reactors nearby at the site located in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu state.
