India, Russia to jointly build stealth war planes

India and Russia will jointly build a fighter plane which will incorporate stealth technology and carry "super" missiles, India's defence minister said Monday.

The announcement came after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew to Moscow on November 12 and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The Indian air force is planning to induct stealth technology and super manoeuvrability in the fifth-generation fighters to be jointly developed with Russia," Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in parliament.

Antony said the jet would also be armed with "super cruise missiles and smart weapons" and added top military aviation experts from the two countries were already working on blueprints.

AFP