Aircraft carrier to be ready after 2011
After major delays and cost overruns, the aircraft carrier “Admiral Gorshkov” will be ready for handover to the Indian Navy after year 2011, Russian military representatives say. The vessel will be one billion USD more expensive than planned.
The vessel, which originally was to be ready for hand-over in 2008, will be one billion USD more expensive than what was originally agreed upon by in the contract from 2004. The Russian side originally demanded 750 million USD for the sales and upgrades of the vessel. The job turned out to be more than two time more expensive The vessel is currently undergoing upgrades at the Sevmash yard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast As BarentsObserver previously reported, the higher price and the delays has been a subject of major irritation in the Indian Defence Ministry. Russian and Indian authorities still appear to have reached a compromise over new contract conditions. According to Mikhail Zavalii, head of Russia’s main weapon exporter – the Rosoboroneksport – the vessel will be handed over to the Indian side after 2011. A contract on the vessel, by the Indians called the “Vikramaditja”, has still not been signed, however
