KALININGRAD. June 24 (Interfax) - The first deputy chief of the Indian naval staff, Vice Admiral Dalip Kumar Dewan, said joint efforts with Russia would be sufficient enough to deliver the Vikramaditya, the new name for the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft-carrier, to India in December 2012.
Certain problems have arisen as the aircraft carrier is being built, these problems are being handled jointly by Russian shipbuilders and Indian experts, Dewan told Interfax. The efforts being made now will definitely suffice to finish the construction by December 2012, he said.
One cannot compare the pace of the construction of the new frigate, the Trishul, and the aircraft carrier, the Vikramaditya, that are being built by Sevmash, the admiral said.
The ship already built is undergoing intense modernization in compliance with the Indian requirements. This process takes more effort, Dewan said.
The Admiral Gorshkov contract was signed with India in 2004, eight years after the ship was put out of service in Russia. The sides agreed to invest $974 million to modernize the vessel and another $530 million in 16 MiG-29Ks and Kamov Ka-31 and Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopters. India was due to receive the vessel in late 2008. About $458 million had been transferred to Sevmash before funding was suspended in January 2007.
It was agreed to increase the funding to $2.33 billion in March. The delivery is due by December 2012. India pledged to buy 29 MiG-29Ks worth $1.46 billion in addition to 16 jets ordered earlier.