India postponed commissioning of Admiral Gorshkov

29.11.2010 Indian defense ministry postponed the commissioning date of upgraded aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to Dec 2012, reports Defense Aerospace. According to initial schedule, Indian Navy was supposed to receive the ship early in 2012. The reasons for time displacement are the need for some uncertain additional works and change of trial schedule of modernized Admiral Gorshkov.

Two times Russia and India signed the contract for modernization and delivery of formerly Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The first $1.5 bln contract was tied in 2004. India suspended payments in 2008, and Russia started talks on revision of scope of works insisting on increase of contract cost. New agreement was signed in March 2010, and the carrier's modernization cost grew up to $2.3 bln. After commission into Indian Navy, Russian ship will be renamed into Vikramaditya.

Recall that the mentioned sum implies not only repair and modernization of the carrier in the interests of Indian Navy but also delivery of 16 fighters MiG-29K and a number of helicopters Ka-27 and Ka-31. In mid-Sept 2010 Indian Navy promulgated some details about expenses for Admiral Gorshkov. In particular, it turned out that $29 mln out of the total sum of $2.33 bln were living expenses for 40 Indian specialists in Russia, and $85 mln were spent on purchase of the carrier's technical documentation.