Deals signed during President Putin's recent visit

This was one of a series of multi-million dollar arms deals endorsed by political leaders last October when the Russian President made a short state visit to Delhi.

Progress was also made on deals for the licence production of Russian T-90 tanks and the supply to India of an aircraft carrier.

Banking on Moscow

The sale of such military hardware has been a key feature of the relationship between the two countries since the end of the Cold War.

Russian equipment is now central to Indian defence systems, although politicians in Delhi are increasingly starting to look further afield for suppliers, including to such countries as South Africa and Israel.

Some analysts also hail the October visit as a turning point in relations between the two, signalling a new strategic closeness after a slightly turbulent decade.

In October Russia and India signed accords on closer defence co-operation, a joint approach in combating international terrorism was a strongly recurrent theme.

Now the completion of this high profile and highly lucrative contract is further practical evidence that the relationship does seem to be getting back onto a firmer footing.