Russia, France to jointly build armoured vehicle

Moscow, June 30 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia and France will jointly build a new armoured infantry vehicle, Russian arms export monopoly Rosoboronexport said.

Igor Sevastyanov, the company's deputy chief, said he was heading a working party incorporating new technology from both nations and that a model had been made. The vehicle will likely be made in the next 18 months.

"We have a project under the aegis of a Russian-French group for land forces, which I head," Sevastyanov said.

"Now we are working on development of some vehicles with a French base but with Russian weapons and Russian turrets."

"The vehicle should appear in the near future, around 18 months. We have a draft design and a model has been made," he said.

He said France was also interested in co-production with Russia of an armoured personnel carrier to be sold to third countries.

Sevastyanov said Russia and the US could cooperate in joint development of arms and military equipment. He did not mention any specific projects, only saying a "joint product" might be around in five to 10 years.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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