Russia has been India's foremost defence partner: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Russia has been India's foremost defence partner through decades.

"My first visit outside Delhi as Prime Minister was to our new aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. It sails our seas as a great symbol of our defence cooperation. Even as India's options have increased today, Russia will remain our most important defence partner," said Prime Minister Modi.

"We have conducted joint exercises across all three wings of the armed forces in the last six months," he added.

Prime Minister Modi said that he discussed a broad range of new defence projects with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We also discussed how to align our defence relations to India's own priorities, including Make in India," he added.

Expressing his delight that Russia has offered to fully manufacture in India for one of its most advanced helicopters, Prime Minister Modi said it includes the possibility of exports from India.

"It can be used for both military and civilian use. We will follow up on this quickly," he added.

Prime Minister Modi further said he also proposed that Russia should locate manufacturing facilities in India for spares and components for Russian defence equipment in India.

"He responded very positively to my request," he added in his media statement during the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India.