New Delhi: India and Russia today (Dec 2, 2004) signed three protocols for fresh investments in joint development of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and agreed to draft an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) accord in four to five months for patenting weapons systems made in collaborative efforts.

The two countries also decided to work out "mutually acceptable" conditions on leasing of long-range TU-22 bombers.

After three days of negotiations, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov announced the decision to pump in investments in the BrahMos Aerospace joint venture, paving the way for commercial production of the 290-km range sea-based supersonic cruise missiles.

However, the two Ministers were silent on the question of reported moves to acquire two Russian nuclear submarines.

Ivanov said the two sides had discussed a package deal, which also involved "appropriate projects" for the Navy.

Under the agreement, the Russians would up the stake in the project from 50 to 60 per cent and, according to experts it would enable the project to shore up $ 50 million (Rs 250 crore approx) to produce the missiles and export them to third countries.

With the step-up in investments, Russian officials said it was proposed to produce 360-370 missiles per year. India has already announced its intention to induct the missiles for its warships.

The two sides, Mukherjee said, have also decided to draft an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) agreement in four to five months.