India-Russia aircraft carrier deal worth 1.5 billion dollars

NEW DELHI (AFP) Jan 20, 2004
A deal signed Tuesday by India and Russia for the transfer of a Soviet-era aircraft carrier to the Indian navy is worth 1.5 billion dollars, Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov said.

The minister gave the figure at a press conference following the signing of the contract at the defence ministry in New Delhi.

The package includes overhauling the carrier Admiral Gorshkov and supplying 28 MiG-29K maritime jets "and other components," he said.

"World developments today insistently and persistently dictate the need to have a pooling of international efforts ... so that we can .... successfully confront challenges we face," he said.

"It is within the framework of a strategic programme that we have signed an important serious landmark contract which is package deal for the shipment of ... the heavy duty Admiral Gorshkov and a batch of deck-based MiG 29 aircraft."

The pact was signed during talks between Ivanov and George Fernandes, his Indian counterpart.

Fernandes told the press conference relations with Russia "are on excellent track."

"This visit will go down as a very significant milestone in our bilateral relationship," he said.

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