There is one more factor in favor of the Russian bid, but it is an economic one rather than military, technical or political. This is the practice of repercussive sanctions often used by the U.S. State Department against countries or organizations that cause its dissatisfaction for one reason or other.

Some 30 years ago India was subjected to such U.S. sanctions for refusing to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. New Delhi and Washington had maintained practically no military-technical relations until March 2006, when the two countries signed a joint statement on nuclear cooperation. Where is the guarantee that Washington will not apply sanctions again in the future?

At the same time, relations between New Delhi and Moscow are not perfectly smooth either. One of the problems is the slow pace at which the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov (known as the Vikramaditya now) is being modernized. The cruiser, which under the contract is to be handed over to India in 2008, can be barely finished by 2010, if not 2012. This has naturally exasperated the Indian government and its admirals, although they express it publicly in mild form. The conflict around the Vikramaditya is not the only one in Indian-Russian military technical cooperation.

A few years ago the Baltiisky Zavod shipyard in St. Petersburg delayed the delivery to New Delhi of three frigates of Project 11356 by more than a year -- the Talwar, Trishul and Tabar -- because of problems with the Shtil surface-to-air missile systems.

Today there are frictions with the modernization for India of five Il-38SD May anti-submarine aircraft. New Delhi is refusing to accept them because its naval aviation pilots say the Morskoi Zmei -- Sea Dragon -- anti-submarine search and homing system installed on these planes does not meet modern requirements, although several months ago no such questions arose.

Today New Delhi is pursing a multi-vectored defense policy and is not limiting itself to cooperation with one country, though Russia has never let it down in serious matters. "Not putting all eggs in one basket" is pragmatic and sensible in a way.

Russia can cite impressive examples of successful military-technical cooperation with India in defense matters. It is enough to mention purchases of Su-30MKI multi-role fighter planes, which, incidentally, are not even used by the Russian armed forces; a contract to supply and produce T-90S tanks; purchases of surface-to-air missile and gun systems, including Smerch multiple launch rocket systems, and many other agreements.

The most impressive among them is the joint venture BrahMos, which produces the supersonic anti-ship missile of the same name. It is not ruled out that it may be proposed as equipment for the MiG-35.

This is another chance for No. 35 to make it to the Indian market. Yet it is too soon to speak of the tender results, which will become known in two years' time. A lot of water will go under the bridge in the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers between now and then.

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(Nikita Petrov is a military commentator. This article is reprinted by permission of RIA Novosti. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.)

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(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)