New Delhi: Close on the heels of a major Defence deal for the sale to New Delhi of six Embarer executive jets, India and Brazil today (Dec 1, 2003) signed a wide-ranging Defence co-operation deal to explore possibilities of co-operating in future aviation programmes in air surveillance systems.

Besides air surveillance systems, the agreement also visualises exploring co-production and co- development of aircraft, warship-building and sub-systems such as software avionics and ordnance.

The agreement signed by the visiting Brazilian Defence Minister Jose Veiges Filho and his Indian counterpart George Fernandes came after marathon day-long talks between the Defence delegations of the two sides.

Brazil, besides US, France, Russia and Israel, is the only country to boast of a well-established air surveillance platform, which it had earlier offered to India. But New Delhi opted for the Israeli Phalcon radar to be mounted on Russian IL-76 frame for its Airborne Early Warning and Control System.

Fernandes during the course of talks repeatedly pointed to the Brazilian delegation India's emerging aviation potential in the shape of its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Advanced Light Helicopter as well as the Intermediate Jet Trainer.

Fernandes invited Brazil to participate in the forthcoming India Defence Expo to be held in New Delhi in February.

PTI