With differences over prices delaying the delivery of upgraded Sukhoi multi-role fighters and Gorshkov aircraft carrier, India on Tuesday rushed a high-level defence team to Russia with fresh proposals to break the logjam.
For the second time in less than a month, Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt and Secretary Defence Production KP Singh will hold parleys with top Russian officials to iron out the differences.
"The team has some concrete proposals to offer to break the logjam," top defence ministry sources told PTI as they expressed confidence that a 'breakthrough could be achieved.'
The visit of the team assumes significance with Defence Minister AK Antony admitting that New Delhi was facing 'problems' in acquisition of the carrier Gorshkov as well as in negotiating a new deal to buy 40 more upgraded Sukhoi-30 fighters for the Indian Air Force.
The Cabinet Committee on Security had recently cleared a proposal to buy these additional Sukhois as an interim measure to shore up the dwindling fighter strength of the IAF in the run-up to floating of international tenders for purchase of 126 Multi-role Combat aircraft.
