Indian Navy chief denies delay in delivery of Russian aircraft carrier
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, May 2, IRNA
India-Russia-Aircraft-Carrier
Dismissing reports that the delivery of Soviet-era aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov would be delayed, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said the carrier would arrive in the Indian waters by 2008-end or early 2009.
"It is as per schedule. It may slip a few months here and there because of the climatic conditions at that time," Admiral Mehta told reporters after a naval investiture ceremony at INS Kunjali-II, the naval helibase of the Western Naval Command, the sword arm of the Indian Navy, in Mumbai according to IANS dispatch.
The Russian aircraft carrier, which is to be renamed INS Vikramaditya in Hindi, is undergoing refits at shipyards and some reports have indicated that the delivery may be delayed.
The delivery in time assumes importance since the existing carrier INS Viraat is ageing, while the carrier being built at Cochin Shipyard Ltd would take another four to five years to be rolled out.
Talking about fleet augmentation, the chief of naval staff said that as many as 34 ships are in different phases of construction at various shipyards.
Besides this, the navy has also asked for funds from the Indian government for placing orders and acquiring 40 more ships of different capabilities.
It will take another 10 to 15 years for all these vessels to be commissioned.
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