Mulayam to visit Russia

Union Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav is expected to visit Russia next month.

According to defence ministry sources, details about Yadav's foreign visit, which will be his first as defence minister, are being worked out.

Yadav was scheduled go to Russia in July, but the trip was postponed due to a crisis in the ruling United Front.

Last year, then Russian defence minister Igor Rodionov visited India and declared Moscow's unequivocal stand that it would not supply arms to any country inimical to India.

This had given a boost to defence ties between New Delhi and Moscow and was followed by the signing of the Rs 63 billion Sukhoi-30 war plane deal.

During the impending visit, Yadav is expected to discuss several deals including the purchase of three frigates, two submarines, four KA-30 helicopters with an early warning system, 152-mm rocket launchers and T-72 tanks.

UNI