At face value, this week's annual Russo-Indian governmental commission on military cooperation was just an ordinary affair aimed at smoothing the often bumpy ride of bilateral defense collaboration. For Moscow, however, India is no longer an ordinary market.

Washington, Berlin, Paris and London also are increasingly vying for lucrative shares of India's defense spending -- the prize being the multibillion competition for 126 Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). But there are several other upcoming procurements for which Moscow also will have to jockey.

Two items in particular were seen to top the agenda for the discussions chaired by Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Indian counterpart, A.K. Anthony: finally sorting out the price for the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, which is being converted by Russia from the Admiral Gorshkov; and agreeing on the framework, and potentially some of the programs, for defense-industrial collaboration next decade.

Other issues included ongoing and delayed efforts such as Indian production of the Russian-designed T-90 S tanks at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi, and high-priority new projects like the joint design and development of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), as well as the long-running effort to jointly develop the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA).

The first of the Indian navy's MiG-29K carrier-borne fighters should be delivered next month. Carrier trials of the aircraft were carried out recently using the Russian navy's Admiral Kuznetsov carrier. The conversion of the Gorshkov has run over schedule and over cost, and it continues to attract adverse political comment in India. Resolving the issue is in Moscow's interest lest it risks tainting the broader defense-industrial relationship.

The 2011-2020 framework also will cover India's FGFA acquisition of Russia's fifth-generation fighter, the Sukhoi-led PAK FA, as well as a planned upgrade program for the Indian air force's Su-30MKI aircraft. Both sides also are reviewing the progress on the MTA, for which an agreement was signed during the Indian prime minister's visit to Moscow in 2007. A joint venture (JV) company needs to be formed to design, develop and produce the MTA in the 15-20 ton class to meet the requirements of the Russian and Indian armed forces. The countries are likely to conclude an agreement to form the joint venture shortly, according to an official statement.

Guided-weapons efforts may include the integration of the Brahmos air-to-surface missile -- a derivative of the NPO Mashinostroynia 3M-55 Yakhont (SS-N-26) on the Su-30MKI, as well as proposals to use the Brahmos joint-venture as the basis to develop a hypersonic weapon. The ramjet-powered Brahmos has a speed in the region of Mach 2 to 2.5, the design aim for Brahmos II -- as it is dubbed -- is for a speed of up to Mach 6, requiring scramjet propulsion.

The importance of sustaining India as a customer is reflected by Moscow in offering the Kh-38 tactical air-to-surface missile as part of the weapons package for its MiG-35 bid for the MMRCA fighter deal, before the system has even entered service with the Russian air force. The weapon may also be on offer for the MiG-29K.

Meanwhile, India appears keen to push the Brahmos II development -- with claims in the Indian media that some form of development agreement was already signed. This, however, is not the case, according to the Brahmos JV joint managing director, Alexander Baskakov. He said no documents on this project had been signed so far.

This is the ninth meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation, an annual event, alternately held in India and Russia.

MiG-29s photo credit: Indian air force