GHAZIABAD: Defence Minister A K Antony yesterday said there were “problems” in the acquisition of Russian-built aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov for the Indian Navy.
“There are problems. We are trying to sort them out,” Antony told reporters here.
He was responding to questions on the delay in inducting the aircraft carrier, renamed INS Vikramaditya, caused by Russia’s reported insistence on raising the $1.5bn price tag for the vessel, and also that the money be paid in euros and not dollars as had previously been agreed.
Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta has repeatedly been stating that the vessel would be inducted by the end of this year or early next year as had originally been planned. However, Antony’s statement yesterday makes it clear that the deadline would not be met.
The defence minister refused to specify what the “problems” were and when the issue would be resolved.
Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt had made a hurried visit to Russia last month to discuss the issue but no common ground could be found either on the Gorshkov deal or on that for the purchase of additional Sukhoi SU-30MKI combat jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), the price of which the Russians have also hiked.
A high-level Russian delegation is expected here later this month for discussing the price issue but defence analysts pointed out that given the firm stance of both sides, a way out could perhaps be found only when Antony makes a planned visit to Russia in October.
The Gorshkov has been mired in controversy almost from the time she was commissioned into the then Soviet Navy in 1987.
After protracted negotiations, India and Russia on January 20, 2004, signed a deal to buy the Gorshkov, along with 12 single-seat MiG-29 fighters and four twin-seat MiG-29 trainers for $1.5bn.
Of this, approximately $800mn was to be spent on upgrading and refitting the ship and $700mn on the 16 MiG-29 jets and six Kamov Ka-31 attack and reconnaissance anti-submarine helicopters.
The upgrade plans involve stripping the ship’s foredeck of all its weaponry to make way for short take-off and assisted recovery configuration with a 14.3 degree ski-jump on the bow and three arrestor wires on the angled deck.–  IANS