"There has been no major breakthrough, though discussions are on," Defence Minister A K Antony said on the sidelines of a function to launch the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

India is supposed to get the delivery of the aircraft carrier next year, but the Russians told New Delhi that they cannot stick to the time schedule due to heavy cost overuns on the warship's upgrading.

In the new terms, Moscow is demanding USD 1.5 billion more for carrying out complex cabling work on the warship to integerate its command and control stations. Under the orginal deal concluded in 2004, India was to pay USD 1.2 billion for complete retrofitting of the carrier.

Antony said negotiation teams from both countries had held a number of round of talks, but no breakthrough had been achieved yet. His remarks assume significance in the backdrop of an expected visit by a Russian delegation later this month in New Delhi on the issue.

Though uncertainity over the delivery of the carrier continues, Russia is expected to stick to schedule on supplying the first batch of Mig-29K, the warship's main fighters by June next year.

The Defence Minister said that Malaysia had evinced interest in acquiring the surface to air Akash missiles.

"Malaysians got to hear about the 100 per cent successfull trials and broached the subject of its acquisition during the talks," he said.

"Malaysian leaders during talks with me evinced interest in the missiles," Antony said as he asked top DRDO officials, including his scientific adviser M Natrajan and missile expert VK Saraswat to follow up on it.

The minister was in Malaysia on an official visit when the successful trials of the missile were carried out at the interim test range in Balasore.

"Malaysians got to hear about the 100 per cent successfully trials and broached the subject of its acquisition during the talks," Antony said.

Malaysia had earlier conveyed its interest in acquisition of the joint Indo-Russian Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles.

On Brahmos, Antony said New Delhi would have to seek Moscow's clearance as it was a joint venture. "But for Akash we have no such bindings," he said.

In an interaction with media at the function, Antony said the country's strategic weapons projects like production of an indigenous nuclear submarine and strategic missiles were on "schedule".

Though he did not elaborate, Defence Ministry officials have said that they were hopeful that the nuclear submarine project christened Advanced Technology Demonstrator would be ready for sea trials by 2009.

Antony ruled out any move to keep out European Aviation Major -EADS- when new international tenders were floated for acquiring 197 light helicopters for the army.