India signs for more MiGs

RAC MiG image

15 March 2010

India signed major defence deals with Russia last week.
 

March 15: Indian newspaper The Economic Times says that India signed major defence deals with Russia last week at a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.

Top of the deals signed was one worth $1.5 billion for 29 MiG-29 fighters for the Indian Navy, in addition to the 16 already purchased. Deliveries will start in 2012 and will replace the Navy’s fleet of Sea Harriers.

The MiGs will operate from the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, another deal signed at the meeting of the two Prime Ministers. The deal has been pending for three years but escalating costs from the Russians pushed the price up from the original $1.5 billion to a demand of $2.9 billion, but intensive negotiations have finally agreed on a price of $2.34 billion. Russia will deliver the Admiral Gorshkov “by the end of 2012”.

View more news