Indian Acquisition of the Gorshkov

[nitesh]

The Hindu : National : India to send team to finalise Gorshkov price

India to send team to finalise Gorshkov price

K.V. Prasad

NEW DELHI: In an effort to finalise the issues concerning Admiral Gorshkov, now called “INS Vikramaditya,” New Delhi will shortly send a team of price negotiators to Moscow.

The aircraft carrier’s purchase ran into rough weather after India signed the deal in 2004 at an originally contracted price of $1.5 billion for its refit and modernisation.

Delivery has been delayed from the scheduled year of 2008 and recent reports indicate that the Russians want an additional $2 billion. The delivery is now expected to take place in 2012.

Authoritative sources told The Hindu that the government had formed a team to visit Russia. This would be followed by another visit by senior officials to finalise the delivery time.

The previous National Democratic Alliance government conducted the negotiations and refurbishment of the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov ran into difficulties after it was discovered that its modernisation bill was underestimated.

While Russia removed the chief of the shipyard where Gorshkov is being refurbished, India resigned itself to re-negotiating the additional cost as it had made an advance payment and there was no comparable alternative.

To replace Viraat

Gorshkov is meant to replace India’s sole ageing aircraft carrier INS Viraat. The likely delay of four years means the Navy will have to strain every sinew to keep it in working condition till the arrival of INS Vikramaditya.

Original negotiations dragged on for several years, with the Navy once expressing its apprehension that if INS Viraat is decommissioned and another carrier is not inducted, it will lose aircraft carrier handling skills.

 

[Keysersoze]

2012 looks like a goner...I doubt its gonna arrive before 2015 as Neo's source has said.

 

[ejaz007]

Indian Team to Visit Moscow to Finalize Admiral Gorshkov Pricing Issues
Dated 4/1/2009


In an effort to finalise the issues concerning Admiral Gorshkov, now called "INS Vikramaditya," New Delhi will shortly send a team of price negotiators to Moscow.

The aircraft carrier's purchase ran into rough weather after India signed the deal in 2004 at an originally contracted price of $1.5 billion for its refit and modernization. Delivery has been delayed from the scheduled year of 2008 and recent reports indicate that the Russians want an additional $2 billion. The delivery is now expected to take place in 2012.

Authoritative sources told The Hindu that the government had formed a team to visit Russia. This would be followed by another visit by senior officials to finalise the delivery time.

The previous National Democratic Alliance government conducted the negotiations and refurbishment of the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov ran into difficulties after it was discovered that its modernisation bill was underestimated.

While Russia removed the chief of the shipyard where Gorshkov is being refurbished, India resigned itself to re-negotiating the additional cost as it had made an advance payment and there was no comparable alternative.

Gorshkov is meant to replace India’s sole aging aircraft carrier INS Viraat. The likely delay of four years means the Navy will have to strain every sinew to keep it in working condition till the arrival of INS Vikramaditya.

Original negotiations dragged on for several years, with the Navy once expressing its apprehension that if INS Viraat is decommissioned and another carrier is not inducted, it will lose aircraft carrier handling skills.

Indian Team to Visit Moscow to Finalize Admiral Gorshkov Pricing Issues | India Defence

 

[nitesh]

The Hindu : National : Team to hold talks on Gorshkov price

Team to hold talks on Gorshkov price

K.V. Prasad

NEW DELHI: In an effort to bring finality to the long-pending aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov) deal, a team of four officials left for Russia on Monday.

The team will work on fixing a final price for the aircraft carrier, being refitted by the Russians. Once it takes a view, there will be a final round of talks at the Defence Secretary-level, authoritative sources in the Defence Ministry said.

The visit comes on the heels of a four-day meeting here last week between officials of both sides. India signed the deal in 2004 at an originally contracted price of $1.5 billion.

However, Russia now asks for an additional $2 billion for the refitting.

Schedule delayed

Delivery of the aircraft carrier was due in 2008. Now the revised schedule is expected to be 2012. It would be any time from one year to 18 months before the carrier was ready for sea tests, the sources said.

Fresh impetus

Negotiations on the deal have gained a fresh impetus after the visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to India last December.

During the visit, it was indicated that the Russian side would like to wrap up price re-negotiation over the next three months.

The modernisation bill for the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov was underestimated at the time the deal was finalised during the National Democratic Alliance government.
To replace INS Viraat

The aircraft carrier is scheduled to replace India’s sole ageing aircraft carrier, INS Viraat.

 

[ejaz007]

Russia, India Meet to Finalize INS Vikramaditya Price Negotiations
Dated 27/1/2009

Indian team consisting of four officials has left for Russia to conclude the INS Vikramaditya price negotiations newspapers reported on Monday. The team will work on fixing a final price for the aircraft carrier, being refitted by the Russians.

There will be a final round of talks at the Defence Secretary-level, so the upcoming meeting is said to be a precursor to the final talks, authoritative sources in the Defence Ministry said.

The visit comes on the heels of a four-day meeting in New Delhi last week between officials of both sides. India signed the deal in 2004 at an originally contracted price of $1.5 billion. However, Russia now asks for an additional $2 billion for the refitting.

Delivery of the aircraft carrier was due in 2008. Now the revised schedule is expected to be 2012. It would be any time from one year to 18 months before the carrier was ready for sea tests, the sources said.

Fresh impetus

Negotiations on the deal have gained a fresh impetus after the visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to India last December. During the visit, it was indicated that the Russian side would like to wrap up price re-negotiation over the next three months. The modernisation bill for the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov was underestimated at the time the deal was finalised during the National Democratic Alliance government.

The aircraft carrier is scheduled to replace India’s sole ageing aircraft carrier, INS Viraat.

Russia, India Meet to Finalize INS Vikramaditya Price Negotiations | India Defence

 

[ironman]

Russians want another $700 mn for Gorshkov
New Delhi: Just as India grudgingly prepared itself to re-negotiate with Russia on its demand to more than double the original cost for aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, Moscow has conveyed another shocker to New Delhi that the deal will cost another $700 million.

 

[heartwinlion]

I think India should go for 2 more ADS class ship rather then go for Gorshkov. It has much cheaper then it. May be it is not in same class but at least we got self-reliance in this field.

 

[ironman]

This makes the deal worth $2.9b. But i think this deal is still feasible because the ship is coming with no cost, only paying for refurbishment and modernization of its weapon system.

 

[satishkumarcsc]

I agree with it till the total ship reaaches the rate of 3.5 billion dollars..It is the cheapest one available till date...

 

[heartwinlion]

I agree with it till the total ship reaaches the rate of 3.5 billion dollars..It is the cheapest one available till date...

you are right but you have to know that it is 30 yr old ship when we get the delivery. So do u think it is cheaper

and I think when the final delivery time come it go up to more then $4 billion

 

[zombie:-)]

you are right but you have to know that it is 30 yr old ship when we get the delivery. So do u think it is cheaper

and I think when the final delivery time come it go up to more then $4 billion

do you know the age of viraat so till ids comes no other go and when will it come 2017..................

 

[PeacefulIndian]

I think its still cheap, even with age considerations. But previously, it was extravagently cheap, now its not.
The aircraft carrier fits to our needs, even if it is not the most modern or newest machine in the world

 

[satishkumarcsc]

you are right but you have to know that it is 30 yr old ship when we get the delivery. So do u think it is cheaper

and I think when the final delivery time come it go up to more then $4 billion

Can u find another aircraft carrier at the rate of Gorshkov and has a faster delivery time? No...the newest aircraft carrier built costs 5 Billion dollars. That is why it is cheap.

 

[duhastmish]

This again gets us to same point- Do INDIA REALLY need a carrier?

 

[PeacefulIndian]

This again gets us to same point- Do INDIA REALLY need a carrier?

Why not have it if we can afford it? And in a naval warfare, an aircraft carrier adds a significant strategic depth to the navy. Its a decisive force which may well swing the balance of the naval war. In India's case, we need to understand why we need it in case of a war with Pakistan (God forbid, may that never happen). Karachi is a port on which Pakistan depends heavily for its sea route trade & many other things. In case of a war, India will always try to block Karachi port thru sea route. Aircraft carrier will be very decisive in that case.
Also in Ground war, AC will help open another front for air attacks to support the ground army. Read Pakistani analysists' blogs on the net. They admit that indian AC will be a menace for Pakistan in case of a full scale war.