The Hindu : Gorshkov deal cleared

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

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Gorshkov deal cleared

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI, JAN. 17. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today approved the Rs. 2,800-crore deal for the Russian aircraft-carrier Admiral Gorshkov. This is the second multi-thousand crore deal by the Vajpayee Government in the last six months.

Towards the end of last year, it had acceded to the Indian Air Force's demand for importing Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft from British Aerospace.

Though the agreement with the British Government is still to be signed, in the case of Admiral Gorshkov, the formalities may be completed during the Russian Defence Minister, Igor Ivanov's visit to the country early next week.

The Russians gifted the partly gutted aircraft-carrier free of cost as a goodwill gesture but, thereafter, both sides were locked in intense negotiations for several years over the price of its refurbishment, modernisation and the addition of fighter aircraft and advanced helicopters that will be housed on its deck.

Besides approving the bill for modernisation of Admiral Gorshkov that includes advanced missile systems and radars, the CCS also approved the purchase of naval fighters from the Russian MiG-Mapo company which beat a spirited bid by a French rival.

The Vajpayee Government now has to clear another major defence deal which has been pending with the CCS for quite some time. It pertains to the assembling of French submarine at Indian dockyards for an estimated cost of Rs.7,000 crores.

Highly-placed sources have been asserting that India should sign the deal for Admiral Gorshkov before the middle of this year to avoid deterioration in its naval capability.

India's sole aircraft-carrier, purchased second hand from the British, is on its last legs and will function only for another couple of years. India will be left without an aircraft-carrier if the deal for Gorshkov is not signed in the coming month. India's plan to build an indigenous aircraft-carrier is still on the drawing board.

Naval officers speak enthusiastically about Admiral Gorshkov but New Delhi's plans to purchase it have been attacked by defence analysts who say the Russian aircraft carrier will cost the country dear in terms of recurring expenditure on its upkeep.

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