Indian Acquisition of the Gorshkov
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ejaz007
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Further updates on the issue:
Nov 22/08: Australias the Age newspaper reports that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has cut back his December 2008 India visit to a single day, a signal usually associated with a strained geo-strategic relationship. The visit will now take place on Dec 5/08.
For complete details visit the link:
INS Vikramaditya Hits Delay, Cost Increases
Nov 22/08: Australias the Age newspaper reports that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has cut back his December 2008 India visit to a single day, a signal usually associated with a strained geo-strategic relationship. The visit will now take place on Dec 5/08.
For complete details visit the link:
INS Vikramaditya Hits Delay, Cost Increases
ejaz007
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Gorshkov: Medvedev on his way, Centre okays price renegotiation
Shishir Gupta
Posted: Dec 03, 2008 at 0106 hrs IST
On the eve of Russian President Dmitry Medvedevs visit to India, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Tuesday gave in to Moscows demands and gave the go-ahead to the Defence Ministry to renegotiate the price for aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The Russians had been demanding upwards of $2.2 billion for overhauling the 44,500 tonne warship that was commissioned into the erstwhile Soviet Union Navy in 1978. The reworked purchase agreement will be signed in the next three months and the ship is expected in India in 2012.
Top Government sources said the CCS finally decided in favour of purchasing Admiral Gorshkov as it was the best option available to New Delhi with more than 65 per cent of Indian Navy made up of Russian built frigates, destroyers and submarines. Further, any friction with the Russians on the Gorshkov issue could also jeopardise future military hardware purchases, including the Akula-class nuclear submarine. The fact that the Chinese Navy is also expanding at a rapid pace also worked in favour of the Russian ship.
The original purchase contract for Admiral Gorshkov and a complement of MiG-29 K jets was signed on January 20, 2004 by the NDA Government at a cost of $974 million.
The CCS mandated the Defence Ministry to renegotiate and freeze the contract as New Delhi has already paid $500 million to the Sevmash shipyard for the ship and there was no way that Indian shipyards could handle the upgradation of the warship with integration of weapons platforms and radars. It was due to this factor that the Government set aside the option of cancelling the contract. This decision would be conveyed to the Russian President Medvedev when he arrives in India for summit level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during December 4-6.
Sources said even though the final price of Gorshkov was still to be worked out, it will cost the Indian exchequer a minimum of $2.2 billion. Already, the work to be done on the ship has been identified between the two sides and construction should begin in earnest after the purchase agreement is sealed. The ship will now be constructed by 2010, sea trial and weapons should be over by 2011 and the transfer to the Indian Navy the next year. When commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya, it would replace INS Viraat, Indias sole aircraft carrier that will be decommissioned by 2010. When delivered the ship would be carrying 12 MiG-29 K fighters, 4 dual-seat MiG-29 KUB, six Kamov-27, Kamov 31 helicopters and will have a life span of 30 years.
:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::
Shishir Gupta
Posted: Dec 03, 2008 at 0106 hrs IST
On the eve of Russian President Dmitry Medvedevs visit to India, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Tuesday gave in to Moscows demands and gave the go-ahead to the Defence Ministry to renegotiate the price for aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The Russians had been demanding upwards of $2.2 billion for overhauling the 44,500 tonne warship that was commissioned into the erstwhile Soviet Union Navy in 1978. The reworked purchase agreement will be signed in the next three months and the ship is expected in India in 2012.
Top Government sources said the CCS finally decided in favour of purchasing Admiral Gorshkov as it was the best option available to New Delhi with more than 65 per cent of Indian Navy made up of Russian built frigates, destroyers and submarines. Further, any friction with the Russians on the Gorshkov issue could also jeopardise future military hardware purchases, including the Akula-class nuclear submarine. The fact that the Chinese Navy is also expanding at a rapid pace also worked in favour of the Russian ship.
The original purchase contract for Admiral Gorshkov and a complement of MiG-29 K jets was signed on January 20, 2004 by the NDA Government at a cost of $974 million.
The CCS mandated the Defence Ministry to renegotiate and freeze the contract as New Delhi has already paid $500 million to the Sevmash shipyard for the ship and there was no way that Indian shipyards could handle the upgradation of the warship with integration of weapons platforms and radars. It was due to this factor that the Government set aside the option of cancelling the contract. This decision would be conveyed to the Russian President Medvedev when he arrives in India for summit level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during December 4-6.
Sources said even though the final price of Gorshkov was still to be worked out, it will cost the Indian exchequer a minimum of $2.2 billion. Already, the work to be done on the ship has been identified between the two sides and construction should begin in earnest after the purchase agreement is sealed. The ship will now be constructed by 2010, sea trial and weapons should be over by 2011 and the transfer to the Indian Navy the next year. When commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya, it would replace INS Viraat, Indias sole aircraft carrier that will be decommissioned by 2010. When delivered the ship would be carrying 12 MiG-29 K fighters, 4 dual-seat MiG-29 KUB, six Kamov-27, Kamov 31 helicopters and will have a life span of 30 years.
:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::
Nihat
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Thats some good news , thanks for cross posting Ejaz
$2.2 Billion - 6300 Crore Rs. and hopefully with balancing exchange rates it will come down.
6300 crore for 30 yrs. = Rs 210 crore for an year in exchage for a massive and intimidating Warship in our ocean waters , not that bad - considering we spend Rs. 1 Cr a day in Siachin for national security , this floating monster is very important too.
$2.2 Billion - 6300 Crore Rs. and hopefully with balancing exchange rates it will come down.
6300 crore for 30 yrs. = Rs 210 crore for an year in exchage for a massive and intimidating Warship in our ocean waters , not that bad - considering we spend Rs. 1 Cr a day in Siachin for national security , this floating monster is very important too.
Vinod2070
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I don't think the exchange rate is quite correct. It will be more like Rs. 10,000 Cr. May be still worth it if it helps national security.
nitesh
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Russia to deliver Gorshkov as per India`s requirements - Sify.com
Russia to deliver Gorshkov as per India's requirements
Saturday, 06 December , 2008, 23:22
New Delhi: Russia today said the price and time of delivery of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will depend on India's requirement for the warship.
"It depends upon the conclusion of the group which decides now about the requirements or limits of requirements of India to decide upon the time and price," Russian Ambassador Vyacheslav Trubnikov told reporters here.
After a year-long war of words, India has decided to re-negotiate with Russia its USD 1.5 billion deal for Gorshkov that is to be inducted into the Navy as INS Vikramaditya.
India, Russia ink nuclear deal
In a boost to their defence relationships, India and Russia yesterday signed a contract for supply of 80 MI-17V-5 medium lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the visit of Russian President.
Russia to deliver Gorshkov as per India's requirements
Saturday, 06 December , 2008, 23:22
New Delhi: Russia today said the price and time of delivery of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will depend on India's requirement for the warship.
"It depends upon the conclusion of the group which decides now about the requirements or limits of requirements of India to decide upon the time and price," Russian Ambassador Vyacheslav Trubnikov told reporters here.
After a year-long war of words, India has decided to re-negotiate with Russia its USD 1.5 billion deal for Gorshkov that is to be inducted into the Navy as INS Vikramaditya.
India, Russia ink nuclear deal
In a boost to their defence relationships, India and Russia yesterday signed a contract for supply of 80 MI-17V-5 medium lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the visit of Russian President.
ejaz007
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Russian Carrier Conversion Moves Forward
By christopher p. cavas
Published: 8 Dec 14:33 EST (19:33 GMT)
A former Russian aircraft carrier under conversion for India is afloat again after three years in drydock.
The former Admiral Gorshkov is afloat again after three years in drydock. (Sevmash) The former Admiral Gorshkov was refloated on Dec. 4 at Sevmash's northern Russia shipyard in Severodvinsk, Sevmash reported. The ship had been in drydock since December 2005.
Now known as the Vikramaditya, the ship is being refurbished for India's Navy.
The 45,000-ton Gorshkov was completed in 1987 as a modified Kiev-class ship intended primarily to operate helicopters and vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. Under a January 2004 agreement, Sevmash is rebuilding the vessel to become a more conventional aircraft carrier, with an angled deck for takeoffs and landings and a ski-jump forward to launch aircraft. New propulsion, weapons and electronic systems also are being fitted.
The extensive conversion has been more complex and expensive than first envisioned, and negotiations with the Indians have become more difficult. India is not expecting to get the ship before 2012.
Sevmash reported that the operation to refloat the Vikramaditya began on Nov. 11. Although the ship became waterborne on Nov. 25, weather conditions prevented it from being moved from drydock to a fitting-out berth until Dec. 3.
Russian Carrier Conversion Moves Forward - Defense News
By christopher p. cavas
Published: 8 Dec 14:33 EST (19:33 GMT)
A former Russian aircraft carrier under conversion for India is afloat again after three years in drydock.
The former Admiral Gorshkov is afloat again after three years in drydock. (Sevmash) The former Admiral Gorshkov was refloated on Dec. 4 at Sevmash's northern Russia shipyard in Severodvinsk, Sevmash reported. The ship had been in drydock since December 2005.
Now known as the Vikramaditya, the ship is being refurbished for India's Navy.
The 45,000-ton Gorshkov was completed in 1987 as a modified Kiev-class ship intended primarily to operate helicopters and vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. Under a January 2004 agreement, Sevmash is rebuilding the vessel to become a more conventional aircraft carrier, with an angled deck for takeoffs and landings and a ski-jump forward to launch aircraft. New propulsion, weapons and electronic systems also are being fitted.
The extensive conversion has been more complex and expensive than first envisioned, and negotiations with the Indians have become more difficult. India is not expecting to get the ship before 2012.
Sevmash reported that the operation to refloat the Vikramaditya began on Nov. 11. Although the ship became waterborne on Nov. 25, weather conditions prevented it from being moved from drydock to a fitting-out berth until Dec. 3.
Russian Carrier Conversion Moves Forward - Defense News
Someone enlighten me. As far as I can tell, the aircraft carrier is too provide a base for force projection far away (>1000 klicks) from the home shores of the nation who goes and buys or makes one. There is no ship producing capacity to be gained from buying one in whole from the Russians. So, the Indian Government must think that it has interests that could expanded or protected through force projection using the airpower provided by a carrier. Or at least it imagines it can convince other groups of such. So....Who might that be? What place would a small ski jump aircraft carrier hold in the grand strategy? I honestly can't make heads or tails of it.
Don't mention U.N. missions please. They are important, but India has too many humanitarian crises of its own to spend 2 billion dollars on an aircraft carrier devoted to solving other countries' issues.
Don't mention U.N. missions please. They are important, but India has too many humanitarian crises of its own to spend 2 billion dollars on an aircraft carrier devoted to solving other countries' issues.
Nihat
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Aircraft carriers are force projection tools - I concur on that but that also provide a floating air base in war times and such mobility is vital during aggression.
A fleet of modern aircrafts , figrates etc etc is a vital presence for any ambitious navy which is why China too aspires to have a carrier of it's own in the near future.
It would necessarily mean that India wants to show aggression off shore but is very essential in Naval blockade and gaining maritime air superiority when land based aircrafts would take much more time. Perhaps a reason why we want to have 3 by 2020.
Delivery is expected to be delayed well beyond 2015, this time due technical problems as I learned from my own source a few weeks ago.
The reason Gorshkov went afloat is to test max take off and landing weight with Mig-29k.
The reason Gorshkov went afloat is to test max take off and landing weight with Mig-29k.
Maritime air superiority implies a threat that can field carriers of its own... Interesting idea. Pakistain ain't it, and the Chinese are under the close watch of USPACCOM. Against any navy with significant submarine capability, without a whole lot of frigate and destroyer ASW support, the mobility of a carrier is significantly limited.. Again, somebody explain the wisdom of this purchasing decision.
Nihat
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That is correct sir - such a valuable asset needs to be protected by Subs and destroyers while in Action or high seas.
The purpose behind operating one is the same as opening up a new air base , for ease of operations and logistical support.
Carriers are not always meant to go deep into enemy territory themselves , it can lie safely behind the hot zone and allow aircrafts a base to reload and launch with Quick turn around time. Think of it as an expensive Air force base which is well capable of protecting itself.
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