New Delhi, November 25: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba will begin a four-day visit to Russia on Monday. His visit will aim at strengthening bilateral defence ties and exploring new avenues for defence corporation between the two countries between the two countries, said Ministry of Defence in a statement. The Navy chief will meet his Russian counterpart, Admiral Vladimir Korolev and will hold talks with General VV Gerasimov, Chief of General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister of Russia

Adm. Lanba will reach St Petersburg on November 26. The Indian Navy Chief would also lay a wreath at the Piskarev Memorial Cemetery, which is dedicated to the victims of the 'Siege of Leningrad.' Adm Lanba’s visit comes a week after the two countries signed a USD 500 million deal for construction of two missile frigates at Goa Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy. According to the contract, Russia will also transfer technology for the construction of the frigates.

Last Month, India signed a $950 –million deal with Russia to purchase two new warships equipped with Brahmos missiles for the Indian Navy which will be delivered by 2022. According to reports, taking into consideration the United States’ Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) against Russia, India could make payments for the ships using the rupee-rouble route. New Delhi also signed a deal of over $ 5 billion with Moscow in October to acquire S-400 Triumf advanced air defence system during Russian president Vladimir Putin’s visit to India to attend the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit.

(With agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 25, 2018 11:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).