Training facility for naval pilots was made in Goa, India

08.09.2010 Indian defense ministry launched a full-scale training program for deck-based fighter pilots at a training facility made with Russian equipment and technology in Goa, reports Interfax-AVN.

"MiG-29 pilots will be trained in realistic conditions and serve on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (former Admiral Gorshkov)", said Rear Admiral retired Vineet Bakhshi, director of Goa Shipyard Ltd. which won the national tender for executing those works. "The shore-based test facility (SBTF) made by the shipyard in cooperation with experts of Aeronautical Development Agency (Bangalore) has been successfully tested and is ready for use.

According to the Indian Navy's veteran, "this unique simulator will help future pilots to practice ashore before they will do their first flight on Vikramaditya which is expected to join Indian Navy within two years". He pointed out that "pilots will be simultaneously trained at Naval Base Hansa, Goa".

The admiral added that "SBTF will also be perfect for trials of Indian-made light combat aircraft LCA to make it optimal for operational use". This aircraft is going to shift overaged British Sea Harrier attack aircrafts.

The contract on modernization of Admiral Gorshkov sold to Indian Navy was signed by Russia in 2004; it provided that Russia would upgrade the ship for $750 mln and deliver deck-based fighters for the similar sum. Although initially scheduled for 2008, delivery time was postponed due to increased scope of works.

During the visit of Russian premier Vladimir Putin to Delhi in March 2010, new documents were signed. According to them, the new contract cost makes $2.3 bln, being a supplementary amount to the previous agreement signed in 2004.