Sevmash speeds up Gorshkov's modernization

13.05.2010 Sevmash shipyard speeds up modernization works on aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov (Vikramaditya) for Indian Navy, said Ekaterina Pilikina, head of the shipyard's press service referring to Vice Admiral Nadel Nirajan Kumar, the head of Indian Navy's ship building and purchasing authority.

On Thursday Indian delegation led by Vice Admiral Nadel Nirajan Kumar completed inspection visit to Sevmash shipyard. Among the delegates were deputy India's naval attaché to Russia, director of naval procurement department, and financial director for naval systems.

"It's been the first time I visited the yard. The ship hit me much and I was pleased to see the shipyard's leaders – director general Nikolai Kalistratov, chief engineer Alexei Alsufiev, deputy director general Sergei Novoselov – exerting every effort to follow the work schedule approved by the governments of our countries", said Mrs. Pilikina citing Indian admiral.

Nonetheless, as for admiral Kumar, in some places the work pace should be speeded up, although he expressed confidence that these delays would be eliminated by his next visit. I'm confident of our success and those actions taken by the shipyard, said the admiral.

Indian delegation has been on board the carrier and familiarized with work progress. According to Indian admiral, he personally monitored the work schedule in India. Having come to Severodvinsk, Kumar ascertained that Sevmash is not only on schedule but even increases the pace.

Upon termination of inspection visit, admiral Kumar and the shipyard's director N. Kalistratov signed a protocol.

Presumably, next time Mr. Kumar will visit Sevmash in Sept 2010.

Aircraft carrier Vikramaditya must be delivered to the orderer till 2012.

The biggest defense export contract implying modernization of Admiral Gorshkov sold to Indian Navy was tied between Russia and India in 2004 providing that Russia would upgrade the ship for $750 mln and deliver deck-based aircrafts for the same sum. Initially, delivery was scheduled in 2008, but the deadline was postponed due to increase of work scope.

During visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Delhi in March 2010 supplementary agreements were signed defining the contract cost as $2.3 bln.