India to build new aircraft carrier

Mar 11, 2004
Author: P&S

The Indian Navy expects to introduce its first locally built aircraft carrier by as soon as 2011, the defence minister George Fernandes has announced. Fernandes said this week that the drawings for the new ship were complete and the first steel is likely to be cut during the course of 2004.

India recently signed a purchase agreement to acquire the former Soviet Navy aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov for a figure of USD1.5Bn. Gorshkov was formally handed over to the Indian Navy earlier this week (9 March) and will be refurbished before being delivered to the Indian Navy sometime in 2008, the same year that India’s existing aircraft carrier INS Viraat is retired from service.