VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
Agreement with Russia's Rosoboronexport agency includes acquisition of associated air wing of more than 20 aircraft
Indian defence minister George Fernandes has signed contracts worth $1.5 billion with Russia's Rosoboronexport state armaments agency to acquire the surplus aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and an associated air wing of more than 20 aircraft.
Worth around $700 million, the largest element of the deal will lead to the delivery from late 2008 of an initial batch of 12 MiG-29K single-seat fighters and four MiG-29KUB combat-capable two-seat trainers. The air wing will include an undisclosed number of Kamov Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare and Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters.
The deal - negotiations on which started in 1995 - was finalised in New Delhi on 20 January, during an official visit to India by Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov.
The MiG-29Kcontract also covers the delivery of flight simulators and other training systems, the instruction of flight and ground crews, and includes an option for a further 30 aircraft to equip the Indian navy's three indigenous air-defence ships planned by 2015. The aircraft will be built at RSK MiG's new production facility in Lukhovitsy near Moscow, and benefit from manufacturing enhancements introduced since the company constructed two MiG-29Kprototypes in 1988.
Detailed technical specifications for the Indian aircraft will be agreed later, although RSK MiG says the aircraft will be equipped with Phazotron-NIIR's Zhuk-ME X-band multimode radar with a slotted antenna and mechanical beam scanning. This provides tracking of 10-12 targets and simultaneous engagement of up to four of these from a distance of 110-120km (60-65nm). It also provides ground mapping with a resolution of better than 30m (110ft). The aircraft's avionics suite will be integrated by OKB Elektroavtomatika or Ramenskoye-based RPKB, and include some non-Russian parts to be requested by the Indian navy.
To be renamed the INS Vikramaditya, the 44,500t ex-Russian navy aircraft carrier will be modernised to enable deck operations of the MiG-29K/UB fighters. Acquired for around $650 million, the carrier will be commissioned into Indian navy service in mid-2007.
Other topics discussed during Ivanov's visit to India included: a potential lease deal for four Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range naval strike aircraft; the Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighter; and the BrahMos cruise missile. Russia and India are also discussing how to extend an interstate agreement to develop the multirole transport aircraft to possibly include Israeli participation.
Source: Flight International
