India and Russia to ink Gorshkov deal by April this year

[Sultan]

NEW DELHI (January 20 2003) : A package deal for the acquisition of the Gorshkov aircraft carrier, as well as nuclear-capable long-range bombers and submarines is likely to be inked by April this year.

"We have agreed that all efforts will be made to complete three contracts by the end of March", said the Defence Minister, George Fernandes at the end the third annual session of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) for Military Co operation in Moscow, according to an Indian National Daily.

Under an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed several years ago, the acquisition of the 44,500-tonnes Kiev-class Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier was tied to the supply of four Tu-22M3 Backfire strategic bombers and two Akul a-class nuclear-powered submarines.

A protocol of the IRIGC signed on Friday (Jan 17) also provides for the joint research, design and development of the fifth generation combat aircraft, added the National Daily.

"Initial steps in this direction are to be taken in the first quarter of this year," Fernandes told the media. The IRIGIC also decided to set up service centres in India for the logistic and product support, including the manufacture of spares of Russian-built combat aircraft, and a facility at Visakhapatnam for medium repair and modernisation of Russian-built submarines.

Following the successful joint development of the Brahmos anti-missile, the Daily maintained, the two sides decided to increase capital in vestment in the joint venture, handling the project by $50 million to $300 to meet the production costs.

According to another news dispatch, India will lease nuclear bombers and nuclear-propelled submarine from Russia as part of a $3 billion package that includes the aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov.

Combined with the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile that is to be tested in the coming week, India's nuclear deterrent will, at last, get some real teeth, stated the dispatch.

The two sides have not yet had a closure on the price India will have to pay for the Gorshkov's refit and the MiG-29K aircraft that it will carry Fernandes told the media persons on yesterday that the package will be finalised by the end of March under the terms of a protocol signed earlier in the day by him with Russian authorities.

He said there was now "a sense of urgency on both sides," since they had been negotiating for so long adding, "All the technical aspects have agreed upon, only the issue of price remains to be settled for the Gorshkov".-APP

Copyright 2003 AFP (Published under arrangements with Associated Press of Pakistan)

[ImtiazA]

Gorshkov Deal by March End: Fernandes

(Source: Press Trust of India; issued Jan. 18, 2003)


MOSCOW---The much awaited deal on the acquisition of 44.5 thousand tonne "Kiev" class aircraft carrier 'Admiral Gorshkov" would be ready for signing in a package with the lease of Tu-22M3 (Backfire-C) long-range strategic bombers and Akula class nuclear submarines by the end of March this year, Defence Minister George Fernandes here said.

Talking to the Indian media here yesterday at the end of the Moscow leg of his six-day visit to Russia, Fernandes said that in the 'landmark' Indo-Russian Defence Protocol signed earlier in the day by him with Russian Industries, Science and Technology Minister Ilya Klebanov provides for the completion of negotiations by the end of March on the whole package.

"Gorshkov is part of the package agreed in the inter-governmental agreement, and all the three deals would be signed together," Fernandes said.

"For obvious reasons the inter-governmental agreement was kept under the wrap. We have a mischievous neighbour and there are some countries which do not want to see us strong, but we need these weapons for our security," Fernandes said explaining why the main media focus was on Gorshkov and nuclear capable Tu-22M3 bombers and Akula class nuclear propelled submarines were sidelined for a long time.

In the Indo-Russian protocol on defence cooperation signed in Moscow both sides have agreed to do 'utmost' to prepare the package for signing by the end of March, Fernandes said. "There is a sense of urgency on both sides. The negotiations are on for almost a decade now. We need Gorshkov, it is not a secret. All the technical aspects have been agreed, only the issue of price remains to be settled," he said.

Fernandes denied media reports about Russia pressing India on the inclusion of MiG-AT advanced trainer jet in the package. "MiG-AT AJT was not found acceptable by the Air Force," he said.

Regarding the delivery schedule of three Krivak III-class stealth frigates under construction in St Petersburg, Fernandes hoped that all the three warships "Talwar", "Trishul" and "Tabar" would be handed over to the Indian Navy by the end of April.

He also did not rule out that India could place orders for more such frigates with Russia. (ends)