NIZHNY NOVGOROD, March 9 (RIA Novosti, Andrei Rukavishnikov) - A Russian defense producer is starting supplies of multiple-launch rocket systems for three Indian regiments, the press service of the Perm regional administration said Thursday.
Under the $150-million contract coordinated by state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Urals-based company Motovilikhinskiye Zavody will provide some 30 modernized Smerch systems.
Motovilikhinskiye Zavody expects Russian and foreign defense orders to grow 20-25% annually and sales to hit $500 million by 2010. The enterprise hopes to attract investment worth about $35 million to overhaul its facilities within three years.
Smerch sales to India have been under negotiation since the late 1990s. The rockets, which are world leaders in their class, have a range of up to 70km, and their sale is not subject to any international bans.
