PAVEDNIKI (Moscow Region), December 7 (RIA Novosti) - India has not yet replied to Russia's proposal to sell the Tu-22-M3E Russian bomber, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday.
"The Indian side has not provided a reply since we made the proposal a day ago," Ivanov, who is also Russia's defense minister, told journalists.
Russia proposed that India buy the planes instead of leasing them. "Leasing won't work due to a number of technicalities," Ivanov said.
India and Russia have a long history of military cooperation. The two countries are currently working on contracts worth $10 billion. Notable deals in recent years include a contract for the modernization and sale of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier and deals on Sukhoi fighters and the T-90 battle tank.
In Tuesday's bilateral talks with President Vladimir Putin, the Indian prime minister said that the two countries were considering plans to build a multi-purpose transport plane and a fifth-generation fighter.
