MOSCOW. Jan 28 (Interfax) - India expects the Russian delivery of INS Vikramaditya in the fourth quarter of 2013, Ajai Malhotra, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation, said in an interview with Interfax.
"We had been looking forward to receiving INS Vikramaditya late last year," he said.
He said that India had expected to receive the ship in late 2012, "however, its sea trials last year revealed certain important correctives were needed, which led to a delay in its delivery."
A contract on modernization of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov renamed to INS Vikramaditya by India was signed in 2004.
The agreement stipulated the allocation of $974 million for repairs and modernization of the carrier and $530 million for delivery of 16 Mikoyan MiG-29Ks and sea-based anti-sub helicopters Kamov Ka-31 and Ka-27.
The ship was supposed to be commissioned back in 2008, but the commissioning was delayed until December 4, 2012. The scale of works grew, which entailed higher costs. Currently, the deal is unofficially estimated at approximately $2.3 billion.
The delivery was delayed again because of defects in boilers revealed by sea trials in September 2012.
Federal Military Technical Cooperation Service Deputy Director Vyacheslav Dzirkaln told Interfax-AVN in late December that INS Vikramaditya would be handed over to the Indian Navy in November 2013.