Production of K226-T helicopter marks major step in India-Russia ties: Rostec CEO

(Goa) [India], Oct. 15 (ANI): Russian defence manufacturer Rostec on Saturday said the production of K226T helicopters would mark a major step in the long-time cooperation and relationship between India and Russia. Addressing the media here, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov said Russia since 1990's have contributed significantly in defence cooperation with India, especially in the production of Sukhoi military planes. "India has been our long time friend and our long time partner. We have been involved in multiple important projects for them for a very long time. Our joint productions have gone quite well, most notably in the 1990's we had the licenced production of the Sukhoi military planes in India," he said. "Today we have signed a very important agreement on the production of K226T helicopters in India, this marks another serious step in our long-time cooperation and a long-time relationship," he added. Responding to a poser regarding the completion of fifth-generation fighter programme Sukhoi PAK FA, Chemezov, said, "As for the timeline, they are close to being done. I hope that all formalities are being sorted out. We see that they are close to being done by the end of this year." The Sukhoi PAK FA is a fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) which is being co-developed by Sukhoi and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force. It is a derivative project from the PAK FA (T-50 is the prototype) being developed for the Indian Air Force (FGFA is the official designation for the Indian version). Chemezov further said the company has signed an agreement in the joint production with Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla. "India has a very strong industry in terms of pharmaceuticals and we have signed an agreement in the joint production with a major Indian pharmaceutical company, Cipla, which would give full lifecycle, full production of pharmaceuticals with Indian technologies for the Russian markets," he added. (ANI)