India- Russia to work on space mission

NEW DELHI: The long-expected agreement to expand the existing Russian-built nuclear power station in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, was signed on Friday.

The groundwork for this power station was completed long ago, but the two countries could not go ahead with the work as they were waiting for the Nuclear Suppliers Group to lift restrictions on India.

The agreement has reinvigorated the ties between the two countries and has also given an impressive start to visiting Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.

A memorandum of understanding between Indian Space Research Organisation and Russian Federal Space Agency on a joint spaceflight programme was also signed.
Atomstroyexport, the nuclear power equipment and service export agency of Russia, will help  Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited set up four more reactors at Kudankulam.

The agreement also speaks of constructing Russian-designed nuclear power stations at new sites in the country. The Russians and French are likely to get a large slice of the nuclear business from the government, though it was the US that succeeded in getting India out of its nuclear isolation.

The other big ticket item for Russia was a contract for the supply of 80 Mi-17V-5 helicopters. Traditionally, Moscow supplied over 75% of India’s military hardware. But since the break up of the former Soviet Union and India’s economic reforms, Delhi has been trying to diversify its defence purchases, buying some from Israel, the US, France and the UK.

A total of 10 agreements were signed by the two countries.