Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov told a joint news conference here the two sides had agreed to sign an agreement to protect intellectual property rights associated with Russian military technology transferred to India.

Ivanov said the two sides had transformed their long-standing military ties from a "buyer-seller relationship" into a strategic partnership to jointly develop hi-tech military hardware like the BrahMos that could be sold to other countries.

The two leaders were speaking after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation.

The discussions were part of the preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India beginning Friday.

"We have decided to make a fresh investment in the (BrahMos joint venture). We have invited (Putin) to spare some time to visit the venture and he will visit the BrahMos complex," Mukherjee said.

The naval version of the BrahMos has been successfully tested several times from land and at sea, including last month, and is on the verge of being inducted into the Indian Navy.

Noting the success of these launches, Ivanov said: "The Russian government will issue an order to scale up its share in the project." Both leaders did not give details about the fresh investments to be made in the project.

"In 2005, India and Russia will conduct a joint army exercise involving the paratroopers of both countries. This is in line with our strategic partnership," Ivanov said.

This will be the first exercise by the land forces of both countries, which carried out their first naval exercise last year.

Ivanov said the two sides had also discussed India's involvement in developing a fifth generation fighter jet. Mukherjee said a conceptual presentation had been made on the aircraft and the two sides would "work out details" on the project.

Referring to the Russian demand for an agreement on protecting intellectual property rights associated with Russian military technology transferred to India, Mukherjee said: "The first meeting on framing the draft of the agreement will be held in January.

"The draft will be completed in four-five months and then agreed on within a timeframe. All the details are being worked out."

Ivanov had been critical of the Indian government for the delay in finalising the pact. Asked when the agreement would be signed, he said: "The sooner the better.

"Given the level of military-technical cooperation and the transfer of military technology, the intellectual property rights should be protected according to the yardstick of the WTO."

Mukherjee said the two sides had identified "areas of deficiency" in defence cooperation and "worked out solutions to resolve problems". He did not give details.

A majority of the hardware used by India's armed forces, including frontline combat jets like the Su-30 and main battle tanks like the T-90, are of Russian origin.

--Indo-Asian News Service