New Delhi: India and Russia will sign a landmark 'Delhi Declaration' during the three-day State visit of President Vladimir Putin from December 3 and give special focus to military-technical co-operation on which some agreements are expected to be finalised.

The declaration to be signed by President Putin and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would outline co-operation in combating terrorism besides covering a wide gamut of security and political fields, giving a new dimension to the close and friendly Indo-Russian ties, official sources said.

Another key document to be signed by the two leaders is expected to set out directions for a close partnership in economic, scientific and technological fields.

The two sides are also discussing accords for sale of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, speeding of licenses for production of SU-30 MKI and supply of nuclear submarines.

Putin will have a meeting with the Prime Minister followed by a private dinner soon after his arrival on December 3 evening from China.

After a ceremonial reception on Wednesday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, he will have a hectic schedule with a meeting with the Prime Minister followed by delegation-level talks covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations besides regional and international issues of mutual concern.

He will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and have meetings with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Defence Minister George Fernandes.

As part of its Defence co-operation, Russia has provided India with Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-29 Fulcrum air-superiority fighters, Sukhoi Su-30-k and SU-30-MKI flanker multi- role warplanes.

Supply of Tunguska self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and SAM (surface-to-air missile) complexes, one tanker, two MK877-EKM submarines, three Mk 11365 frigates, Kamov Ka radar-picket helicopters and some other weapons and combat-hardware models were part of implementation of the bilateral military-technical co-operation programme until the year 2000.

Russian agency Vremya Novostei quoted sources at the committee for military- technical co-operation to say that the programme until 2010 aims at shipping weapons and combat hardware for all Indian armed services.

Moscow has also undertaken to transfer specific production licences and to help master production of some weapons at Indian enterprises, Novostei said.

It also spoke of contracts that envisage the delivery of T-90-S main battle tanks, Essa thermo-visor tank sights and their batch production to a Russian license, modernisation of Ilyushin II-38 aircraft as well as efforts to repair and upgrade Mk 877-EKM submarines.

Novosti quoted these sources to say that New Delhi and Moscow had started discussing the joint development of a fifth-generation fighter just over a year ago.

The Indian side is examining more than 350 contracts including for the production of Amur-1650 submarines to a Russian license, delivery of Smerch (Tornado) multiple- launch rocket systems (MLRS-s) and warship munitions.

Official sources said the two sides were also negotiating the creation of India's own AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System)-type long-range radar onboard Russia's A-50 aircraft.

The discussions of the Russian President with the Indian leadership will cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Several documents are expected to be signed during the visit, covering various sectors of the wide-ranging bilateral relations. "These documents will further strengthen the politico-legal basis of their bilateral co-operation," an External Affairs Ministry official said.

Putin is undertaking the visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as part of their decision to hold annual summit meetings to carry forward their bilateral political dialogue.

While the Russian President had visited India in October 2000, Vajpayee paid a state visit to the Russian Federation in November last year.

Relations between India and Russia were marked by "continuity, trust and mutual understanding", the sources said.

The two sides have held intensive inter-action in important sectors like power, steel, oil, coal and Information Technology, science and technology, culture, space, atomic energy and defence.

PTI