NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

India to get Russian aircraft carrier

India will receive Russia's revamped and fully re-equipped aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov, soon.

According to Voice of Russia, the contract papers for the carrier are ready to be signed. But no further details were given about the signing ceremony, which might coincide with Defence Minister George Fernandes's scheduled visit to Moscow.

The carrier, decommissioned from Russian naval service a few years ago, was offered free to India.

Since it needed many changes to meet Indian requirements, India agreed to meet the expenses for re-equipment and overhauling. The whole operation will cost India $2 billion, the radio revealed.

Voice of Russia also reported that a Russian firm is manufacturing military transport helicopters for the Indian Air Force. The firm in Kazan hopes to fulfil the Indian order for 40 MI-17-IV in 13 months as stipulated in the agreement reached between the two countries.

The first batch of four helicopters will be despatched as soon as India opens a letter of credit, the Russian weekly News from Russia added.

UNI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report