Its official, Gorshkov gets delayed by another year
In a blow to the Indian Navys aircraft carrier programme, visiting Russian defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov on Wednesday confirmed that the Indian Navy would receive the aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya (formerly called the Gorshkov), only a year from now.
Business Standard had reported last month (September 18, 2012, Gorshkov curse continues, aircraft carrier fails trials) that the 45,000 tonne aircraft carrier, which Russia was to deliver to India in 2008, would now be delivered after October 2013, having suffered a major engine failure during ongoing sea trials in the Barents Sea.
On Wednesday in New Delhi, a visibly embarrassed Serdyukov admitted at a press conference, We believe the transfer of the ship from Russia to the authorities in India will take place in the fourth quarter of 2013.
His stony-faced Indian counterpart, AK Antony, who sat next to Serdyukov without looking at him, kept open the option of invoking a penalty clause in the contract which allows India to penalise Russia for the delay, to the extent of five per cent of the ships cost. Asked specifically about the penalty clause, Antony responded, These are issues we will discuss later
not now. Now, our main concern is the early delivery (of the Vikramaditya).
Adding to Antonys discomfiture, Serdyukov also stated that the fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) India and Russia are co-developing, would only start production by 2020. In that case, it would not enter service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) before 2022-23. Antony has earlier stated the FGFA would join the IAF by 2017.
Broadsword: Its official, Gorshkov gets delayed by another year