Russia to deliver MiG fighters to India by 2009

Moscow, Sep 30: Russia will start deliveries of MiG-29K Fulcrum-D carrier fighters to India in the spring of 2009.

Russia and India signed a contract on January 20, 2004, stipulating the delivery of 12 single-seater MiG-29K and four two-seater MiG-29KUB by 2009, to be deployed on the Admiral Gorshkov, currently being retrofitted in Russia for the Indian Navy. "The first four MiG-29K aircraft will be delivered to India in the spring of 2009," said Mikhail Globenko, marketing director of MiG.

The MiG official said that there was an option in the contract to supply an additional 30 fighters by 2015 and the company was in talks with the Indian Navy on exercising this option.

"We are ready to exercise this option and it all now depends on the Indian side," Globenko said.

He also said that Indian pilots started on Monday a five-month training course for MiG-29K in Russia and technical personnel had already been training in Russia for two months.

"By the time the first aircraft arrive in India, their pilots and technicians will be ready," the Russian official said.

ANI