India will get almost new carrier having paid $2 bln for Admiral Gorshkov - Trotsenko

07.10.2010 Cost of contract on repair and modernization of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov for Indian Navy exceeded $2 bln, said Roman Trotsenko, the president of United Shipbuilding Corporation.

"New cost of the contract is over $2 bln, delivery term is Dec 2012. We're on schedule", said Mr. Trotsenko in the interview to Kommersant.

"Sure, the contract cost has been increased but the fact that we've managed to agree with Indian partners indicates the high level of Russian-Indian political and economic cooperation", pointed out Trotsenko.

The president of USC noted that once France had decided to increase costs of Scorpene subs built for India, "it got a legal claim at once". "There was nothing like that in our case, so we'd like to thank both Indian partners and representatives of Rosoboronexport who had done their job professionally", underlined R. Trotsenko.

According to him, a big work has been done on determination of new contract cost and shaping of order execution system. Sevmash is a yard specialized in serial building of nuclear submarines and not experienced in modernization of large surface ships. "It's a new challenge for the shipyard; they must learn everything from scratch", underlined the president of USC.

Speaking of successful completion of the new contract, he said that the issue is not only around political agreements.

"In fact, India will get a new ship for this money. Only a part of hull remained from Admiral Gorshkov. Taking into account the ship's configuration, arms, and equipment, it is impossible to get similar aircraft carrier for such money and within such terms", said R. Trotsenko.