Article Posted on : - Sep 04, 2009

A File Photo of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier

MOSCOW (PTI): Russia and India will sign an additional agreement in October over the much-delayed upgradation and delivery of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, a senior Russian official said on Thursday.

"The negotiations are still on and we hope to ink the additional agreement by mid-October," Chief of the Russian Technologies Corporation Sergei Chemezev told reporters in the Kremlin as President Pratibha Patil began her high-level talks with the Russian leadership.

Defence cooperation was one of the key issues of Patil's parleys with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today.

In addition to the original USD 616 million cost of upgradation, the Severodvinsk-based Sevmash shipyard is demanding additionally up to USD 2 billion for the refit of the 45000 tonner Kiev class aircraft carrier to be inducted as INS Vikramaditya.

Originally, Russian shipyard was to deliver it in August 2008, however, due to extra work and dispute over the refit cost its delivery has been deferred till 2012.

In July visiting the Sevmash shipyard President Medvedev had described the Gorshkov issues as the 'sole irritant' in bilateral relations with India and ordered to complete negotiations and deliver the ship within the agreed deadline.