Sindhurakshak disaster won’t dent defence cooperation: Russia

Dmitry Rogozin, deputy prime minister in charge of the defence industry, said Russia would continue to help India strengthen its defence potential, which was dented by the loss of one of its handful of operational subs.

Rogozin vowed to expand defence cooperation between the two countries. ''Whatever the outcome [of the Sindhurakshak probe], India remains our leading partner, not just only in the off-the-shelf purchases of weapon platforms,'' he said.

''India is our premier partner for the long haul in co-development of military hardware. We will help India build up its capabilities in this sphere,'' Rogozin told reporters on a visit to Russia's major nuclear submarine base in Vilyuchinsk, Kamchatka Peninsula, in far eastern Russia.