India asks US to give up missile tests

The Defence Minister also disclosed that the deal to acquire 100 T-90 main battle tanks from Russia, stuck due to the pricing, will be clinched very soon, while the terms for the licenced production of 140 Sukhoi-30 mki fighter aircraft in India were going to be finalised in the near future.

8220;In terms of money, the price is a small issue. Once the issue is resolved, nothing more needs to be done,8221; he asserted, adding: 8220;The price negotiating committee is in the process of finalising the deal.8221;

He claimed that the project for indigenous production of 124 Arjun main battle tanks would not be adversely affected by the T-90 deal. Serial production of the Arjun MBT is on, he said.

The Defence Minister, who witnessed a demonstration of the SU-30 mki at Zhukovsky, said the aircraft did not have Russian avionics, but those from Western Europe and some Indian firms. Terms for the licence production of the fighter aircraft were presently being discussed and a decision would be taken soon.

He also revealed that Russia had not yet submitted the project report on the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which they proposed to gift to India after extensive re-fitting, the cost of which will be borne by India.

Speaking about the latest defence exercise undertaken by the US, he said that a shield against ballistic missiles will face a crucial test on July 7, when the Pentagon makes its third attempt to shoot down one missile with another.

If the intercept goes as planned, the Pentagon will almost certainly recommend that the US go forward with the deployment of the initial phase of the national missile defense system by 2005.

8220;The US should give up this whole exercise as it will lead to far too many problems than one can visualise now,8221; Fernandes pointed out.

Top Russian leaders, whom he met last week during his five-day trip, were, he said, 8220;visibly concerned over the development and no one made any bones about it8221;.

8220;They feel that the US is trying to alter the balance of power that exists in the world in the post-cold war period,8221; he said.