Ajit Doval, Russian first deputy PM review defence, energy ties

New Delhi: National security adviser Ajit Doval met Russia's first deputy prime minister Denis Manturov in Moscow on Friday to review the India-Russia strategic partnership, with a focus on defence, energy and space cooperation.

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments, people familiar with the matter said.

Doval and Manturov later visited Russia's National Space Centre, including Roscosmos' new data and mission control hub for the planned Russian orbital station.


The delegation viewed models of Russian space technologies, including the base module of the proposed orbital station and one of the world's most powerful liquid rocket engines.

They also held a live interaction with Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station, who briefed them on a spacewalk conducted on May 27.

India and Russia have a long-standing partnership in the space sector. The Soviet Union helped launch India's first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975, laying the foundation for the country's space programme.

The two countries continue to collaborate in areas including human spaceflight, satellite navigation, space exploration and commercial space ventures. Four Indian Air Force pilots recently completed training at Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre as part of preparations for India's human spaceflight programme.

NSA meets Myanmar counterpart

On the sidelines of an international security forum in Moscow, Doval also met Myanmar national security adviser Tin Aung San. The two reviewed cooperation in security, defence and connectivity, and exchanged views on regional developments.

The meeting comes ahead of Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing's visit to India starting Saturday.