The joint ventures between India and Italy in the development and production of defence related equipments is set to expand with the conclusion of the Italian Defence Minister Arturo Parisi's four-day visit to the country on Thursday.
Italy is keen to work with India in the joint production of 127/64mm canons for the Indian Naval warships and in this regard Parisi also paid a visit to Bharat Heavy Electrical (BHEL) workshop in Bangalore, where currently 76/62 naval guns for the Navy vessels are being manufactured with the technology transferred from Italian firm Oto Melara.
Besides this Italy also wants to expand cooperation with India on manufacturing maritime patrol aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters for the Indian Navy, and the visiting minister also toured Hindustan Aeronautics Limited facility in Bangalore before coming to Delhi.
The European nation is already providing designing consultancy to Indian Navy to build its first indigenous aircraft carrier, which is expected to be completed by 2012. The aircraft carrier is part of the combat systems for the Air Defence Ship (ADS). Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, besides building the ship's propulsion system, is helping the Indian Navy design the ADS and the Russian firm is contributing aviation technology for the aircraft carrier.
Today, Parisi met Defence Minister A K Antony and the two leaders discussed "matters of mutual interest and defence cooperation". The two nations are expected to give the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on transfer of defence equipment, technical assistance and defence industrial cooperation a shape of formal agreement very soon.
The visit of Parisi is seen in the context of bringing the two-nations close to such an understanding. India and Italy are currently cooperating on a number of other defence programs like developing an oceanographic survey vessel, heavyweight torpedoes for submarines and advanced warships and frigates. Parisi's visit follows Italian deputy defence minister Lorenzo Forceri two-day visit to Delhi last November.