NEW DELHI - Russia will deliver the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to the Indian Navy next year, a Navy official said.
A team of 150 personnel - technicians, managers and others -from the Indian Navy has already arrived in Russia for training on the 45,000-ton carrier, currently being refitted for Indian needs there.
India is paying Russia $67.5 million for the training, the official said.
The carrier will ultimately be manned by some 1,500 sailors.
In 2004, Russia signed a deal to refit and deliver the Gorshkov for $974 million, but the Russians subsequently demanded more money. The work was delayed until the Indian government finally agreed to pay a total of $2.33 billion, the official said.
The Navy also placed a $526 million order for 16 MiG-29K aircraft, which began arriving last year and are currently on shore at Goa. These aircraft will fly from the carrier, which will be renamed INS Vikramaditya.
India currently operates one carrier, INS Viraat, and is building another, the Air Defense Ship, slated to enter service in 2014.
In 2004, Russia signed a deal to refit and deliver the Admiral Gorshkov for $974 million, but the deal was delayed after the Russians subsequently demanded more money. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / AFP)
India is paying Russia $67.5 million for the training, the official said.
The carrier will ultimately be manned by some 1,500 sailors.
In 2004, Russia signed a deal to refit and deliver the Gorshkov for $974 million, but the Russians subsequently demanded more money. The work was delayed until the Indian government finally agreed to pay a total of $2.33 billion, the official said.
The Navy also placed a $526 million order for 16 MiG-29K aircraft, which began arriving last year and are currently on shore at Goa. These aircraft will fly from the carrier, which will be renamed INS Vikramaditya.
India currently operates one carrier, INS Viraat, and is building another, the Air Defense Ship, slated to enter service in 2014.
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