Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash flew in the fourth generation MiG-29 fighter in Moscow, similar to the one that would be deployed on Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier being acquired by India from Russia.
"I was highly impressed. It is very good, very capable fly-by-wire fighter," Admiral Prakash said after the flight during a visit to the RAC MiG Corporation in Moscow on Tuesday.
"India is to acquire 14 deck based MiG-29K fighters for deployment on Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, currently under refit at the Russian naval shipyard in Severodvinsk. I would love to fly the MiG-29K also," the Naval chief told reporters at the end of his Moscow leg of his week-long Russia tour.
In Moscow, Admiral Prakash had talks with his Russian counterpart, Admiral Vladimir Masorin and Chief of the General Staff, General Yuri Baluyevsky.
The Naval chief expressed confidence that Russia would be able to deliver Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier in the autumn of 2008 as per schedule. However, earlier last week after his visit to Severodvinsk, Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt did not rule out some delay due to unexpected problems arising in the course of the warship as it was undergoing a total refit.
The Naval chief said the talks have been completed on the deal for the acquisition of three more 'Talwar Class' stealth frigates from Russia. "We have some issues with the Russian defence industry, which we hope to resolve shortly," the Naval chief said.
At the end of his visit, Admiral Prakash will fly to the Russian Pacific Fleet base in Vladivostok to finalise the arrangements for Indo-Russian naval wargames in the Far East early next year.
"Like earlier INDRA-2003 and INDRA-2005, the basic requirements of INDRA-2007 is to evolve ability to work in actual conditions, for example tsunami," the Naval Chief said.
According to him interoperability, learning and practicing anti-submarine and anti-aircraft combat are also parts of such war games.