BY : PTI

In a bid to help India meet an acute shortage of spares for its armaments, Russia has offered to set up a depot in the country, the first of its kind, to cater to the requirements of the three Defence services.

The proposal of the Russian Government was being examined by the Government, official sources said.

During his visit to Russia last month, Defence Minister A K Antony raised the issue of shortage of spares for various armaments in the inventory of the Indian Navy, Army and Indian Air Force, following which the proposal came from Moscow.

The Defence Ministry is now discussing the Russian proposal and some positive response seems to be emerging. It is being felt that the time consumed in getting crucial spares would be saved through such an option and it would be cost effective too, the sources said.

India has several arms and equipment in its inventory which have been manufactured by Russia. Many of them are being co-produced in India. These include MiG and Sukhoi fighters, T-90 and T-72 tanks, AN-32 planes, the Ilyushin (Gajraj) aircraft, submarines, vessels and missiles.

According to the proposal, Russia would set up a depot where spares of various Russian armaments as well as those of equipment produced by companies in the erstwhile Soviet Union would be stored, the sources said.

Though in principle, New Delhi was not averse to such a move it would wait till a formal proposal is sent from the Russian government in which the finer points about the management of the depot are sorted out.