Russia to deliver Admiral Gorshkov on schedule : Dutt

Moscow, June 17 (UNI) The modernisation of heavy aircraft carrier 'Admiral Gorshkov' that Russia sold to India was proceeding according to the schedule and the fully upgraded ship with deck-based MiG-29 fighters would be delivered to the Indian Navy by the autumn of 2008.

Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt on his four-day visit to Russia from June 14-17 travelled to St Petersburg and Severodvinsk to get first-hand information on the progress of the work on Admiral Gorshkov.

''We wanted to see the work being done on Admiral Gorshkov. It is proceeding on schedule. It is going to be delivered by the autumn of 2008,'' he told mediapersons before departing to India.

''Admiral Gorshkov is a unique project. After modernisation, it will a completely new ship. Even its designer will not be able to recognise it,'' he said.

Mr Dutt also held talks with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov yesterday on wide-ranging bilateral defence cooperation and reviewed the progress on many ongoing projects.

The Russian Defence Minister will pay a visit to India January next year to co-chair the session of Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation.

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