India signals closure of Gorshkov package
Rahul Bedi JDW Correspondent
New Delhi
India has announced that it intends to finalise acquisition of the partially gutted Russian Kiev-class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, and the 'related' lease-purchase of two Akula (Bars)-class Type 971 nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) and four Tu-22M strategic bomber/maritime strike aircraft by the end of its Fiscal Year 2002-03 in March. The value of the package is estimated at $2.5 billion.
"We have agreed that all efforts will be made to complete all three contracts by the end of March," Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes said in Moscow at the end of the third meeting of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) for Military- Technical Co-operation on 8 January. He conceded that the carrier's price remained the "sticking point" in finalising its acquisition, but added that there was a "sense of urgency on both sides" to implement the deal.
"The Gorshkov is part of the package agreed in an inter-governmental agreement [signed in the late 1990s] and all the three deals will be signed together," Fernandes said. "We need these weapons for our security," he added. He described the IRIGC protocol that he and Russia's Industries, Science and Technology Minister Ilya Klebanov signed last year as a "landmark document" covering all major issues of procurement (Jane's Defence Weekly 20 February 2002 ).
India has been negotiating since 1995 for the Gorshkov, which is being offered for the price of its refit, estimated at between $700 million and $750 million. New Delhi has been unwilling to pay this amount for a vessel that, seriously crippled by a fire, has been lying unused for more than a decade. Russia is also pressing India to buy some 40 MiG-29K interceptor/ground attack fighters for the carrier's air group for an estimated $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion.
The IRIGC protocol includes co-operation in developing a fifth-generation fighter and the production of the jointly developed BrahMos (codenamed PJ 10 ) anti-ship cruise missile configured on the Russian 3M55 Oniks/Yakhont (NATO designation: SS-NX-26).
The protocol also agreed to establish service centres in India for logistic and product support for its military equipment, nearly 70% of which is Soviet or Russian in origin.
This includes the manufacture of spares for Russian-made combat aircraft and a facility on India's east coast to repair and upgrade Russian-built submarines.
Fernandes said the Indian Navy would take delivery of the three Talwar - Krivak III (Project 1135.6) - stealth-class frigates being built at the Baltiysky Zavod shipyard at St. Petersburg by the end of April, more than a year behind schedule (JDW 9 May 2001). Indian naval officials, however, remain sceptical.
INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar were delayed "due to unsatisfactory performance of their weapon systems", Fernandes told parliament in December 2002.
