Moscow: Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been refitted for the Indian Navy, will set sail for India on November 30, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin announced yesterday.
“On November 30, the ship will leave our waters for India,” Rogozin said at Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s yesterday meeting with his deputy prime ministers, according to Voice of Russia. Medvedev said that the completion of the ship’s upgrade “is a question of prestige for our shipbuilding”.
“Even though there were numerous difficulties, it is important that this job is completed and that our Indian colleagues accept the ship,” Medvedev said.
The ship is to be transferred to India under the name of Vikramaditya.
The original agreement with Russian for refitting and upgrade of Gorshkov was signed in 2004 for $974m. The delivery of the modified Kiev class aircraft carrier commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1987 and decommissioned in 1996 was set for 2008.
IANS
