Article Posted on : - Jul 09, 2009

A file photo of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov

NEW DELHI (PTI): Defence Minister A K Antony Wednesday said that the final price of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier would be known only after completion of the ongoing price negotiations between Russia and India.

"The Russian side has been invited for price negotiations and the details of the final prices would be known only after completion of these negotiations," Defence Minister A K Antony said while replying to a query in Rajya Sabha.

He said that the delivery acceptance trials of the ship are expected to be completed in December, 2012.

Antony said that after the Russian side had submitted a revised master schedule indicating delays in delivery and increase in price, the government had agreed to conduct negotiations for finalising a repair and re-equipping contract for the aircraft carrier.

India had signed a deal worth Rs 6,900 crores with Russia in 2004 for the purchase of the Admiral Gorshkov along with 16 MiG 29K aircrafts.

In 2007, Russia demanded additional USD 1.2 billion from India for the aircrafts, citing increase in the cost of refurbishment of the 44,500 tonne warship.