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India and Russia clear decks for sale of Gorshkov
New Delhi, Jan 04: After weeks of hard negotiations, India has cleared the acquisition of the 45,000 tonne aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia.
New Delhi, Jan 04: After weeks of hard negotiations, India has cleared the acquisition of the 45,000 tonne aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia.
"We have resolved the contentious issues and drawn up a
comprehensive agreement to cover the sale, after sale services
and supply of spares for the carrier,” top most defence
ministry officials said here.
Though the officials were tightlipped beyond this, sources said that the over 2 billion US dollars deal covering the complete refitting of the carrier, sale of 28 Mig-29K fighters and 6 Kamov 31 anti-submarine helicopters would be signed during the visit of the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov to India from January 20.
Officials said along with the agreement on Gorshkov, the two sides during the visit of Ivanov would also take up the issue of erratic supply of spares for Russian frontline armament system in use with the Indian armed forces as well as contractual disputes cropping up on the Sukhoi-30 fighter sales to India.
"The supply of spares for the Mig-21 is worrisome,” top officials said adding that the issue had to be sorted out as the fighter had been involved in a high number of air accidents over the past few years.
The Russian minister was scheduled to visit India in November end, but had to put off the tour as differences cropped up between the two countries over the interpretation of the Gorshkov agreement by the Naval Chief Admiral Madhvendra Singh.
Though the officials were tightlipped beyond this, sources said that the over 2 billion US dollars deal covering the complete refitting of the carrier, sale of 28 Mig-29K fighters and 6 Kamov 31 anti-submarine helicopters would be signed during the visit of the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov to India from January 20.
Officials said along with the agreement on Gorshkov, the two sides during the visit of Ivanov would also take up the issue of erratic supply of spares for Russian frontline armament system in use with the Indian armed forces as well as contractual disputes cropping up on the Sukhoi-30 fighter sales to India.
"The supply of spares for the Mig-21 is worrisome,” top officials said adding that the issue had to be sorted out as the fighter had been involved in a high number of air accidents over the past few years.
The Russian minister was scheduled to visit India in November end, but had to put off the tour as differences cropped up between the two countries over the interpretation of the Gorshkov agreement by the Naval Chief Admiral Madhvendra Singh.