Moscow, Dec 7 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The chief of the Russian General Staff, Army Gen Nikolai Makarov, will be visiting India Dec 7-9 to discuss bilateral military cooperation, the Russian defence ministry said Tuesday.
Makarov will meet his Indian counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, and other senior military commanders. The two sides will focus in particular on the preparation for the Indra 2011 joint military drills.
During his stay in India, Makarov will also visit the BrahMos Aerospace Ltd, a Russia-India joint venture manufacturing supersonic cruise missiles, and the headquarters of the 50th independent parachute brigade, the first Indian airborne unit formed in 1941.
The Indian and Russian military have conducted joint Indra exercises since 2003. The latest drills were held in October this year in the Himalayas.
Russia sent more than 200 troops from its 34th mountain brigade, based in the North Caucasus, to join the Indian troops in the exercises.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm/pg
