Russia says India aircraft carrier delivery delayed by 5 months
Sources close to Russian arms exporter Rosoboron export told Reuters earlier this week that problems with the boilers on the Vikramaditya were discovered during sea trials and would delay delivery of the vessel by six months to a year.
The head of a top shipbuilder confirmed on Friday that boilers had malfunctioned.
"Besides that, there are a series of mechanisms which malfunctioned including those delivered by countries of NATO," Interfax reported Andrei Dyachkov, president of United Shipbuilding Corporation, which owns another company that is doing the renovation, as saying.
He did not go into details.
Interfax quoted him as saying repairs would push back the delivery by five months until May from this December.
Originally built as the Admiral Gorshkov in the Soviet Union, the vessel to be reconditioned for India is seen as the cornerstone of defence ties between Russia, the world's second largest arms exporter, and its biggest customer.
But several delays and cost overruns for the vessel have raised the ire of both sides.
Russian newspaper Kommersant said this week the boilers malfunctioned when the ship accelerated to maximum speed.
"According to our calculations, the estimated duration of repair work ranges from five to seven months," said Dyachkov.
The ship is due to arrive back for repairs in the coming days.
Earlier it was scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy in time for the country's December 4 naval holiday.
New Delhi bought at least $1.6 billion worth of Russian arms last year, or 21 per cent of all of Russia's defence exports.
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@HelloKitty Feeding Russian Bear may be better than falling prey to Jackals and Wolf in form of Dragon
Everything about India is buy...buy...buy...and still is buying. This is why the first Indian fighter LCA after 28 years of development still can't enter service. Russians aren't dumb. They realize Indians have strong reliance on them, and that's why they jack up sky high prices. India needs to feed its own people first before feeding the hungry Russian lion.
You are right Vikas, Look Russia is firm for it's ally Syria. But US left Mubarak. We can't believe West...they will throw away at any time. in case of War you won't get Western equipments and machines...But Russia stood by out side in 1971 very firmly....it's ok for the delay... people will be shouting without looking at the issue and the problems...did anyone shouted for the delay of LCA, Failure of Kaveri engine? Nag missile failure? war proven Barak missile deal blockage? there will be difficulties in high end products...it's just 10yr delay from 2006 - 6yr...can't they wait for 1yr more?
@ vikas, Lol and what are the Indians going to do??
@Vikas: It's not the same old ally anymore is it? Well, you can't win two competent ally at the same time, can you? One can only wonder if India was in an urgent need, could it afford this delay? Hopefully after all the headache and NATO blaming they finaly do a satisfactory job on the craft.
Only if these Indians start worrying about 70% people that live below the international poverty line. $1.6 billion? LOL. Makes me laugh but that's sad.
@ Vikas...No they are testing the boilers...
Russian are testing our patience.