Russia to complete delivery of 16 MiG fighters this year

Moscow, Aug 3 (PTI) Russia will complete the delivery
of 16 carrier-borne MiG-29K/KUB fighters to the Indian Navy by
the end of this year for deployment on the refurbished Admiral
Gorshkov aircraft carrier, a top official of the aircraft
manufacturer said Wednesday.
A top official of the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG
said Wednesday that 11 fighters had already been delivered
under the first contract, and the deliveries of jets of the
second series will begin from next year.
"From the first contract for 16 jets which included 12
single seater MiG-29K and two double seater trainer-cum
-fighter MiG-29KUB, we have already delivered 11 fighters,
including 9 single seater and 2 double seater jets to the
Indian Navy," CEO of RAC MiG Sergei Korotkov said.
Talking to a group of reporters at the MiG plant here
Korotkov said that under the second USD 1.5 billion contract
signed in March 2010 for the supply of 29 MiG-29K/KUB naval
fighters, the first aircraft was laid on the assembly line
Tuesday in the presence of a senior Indian representative.
He said the deliveries of the jets of the second
series will begin from the next year and could be completed by
the time of delivery of INS Vikramaditya to the Indian Navy.
Korotkov said he was not discouraged by the loss of
his MiG-35 fighter jet in the IAF's global tender for 126
medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).
He said that a new contract for the supply of 24 more
naval MiG-29K fighters is expected to be signed soon with
India.
"It is quite possible that it could be signed on the
sidelines of the 10th International Aerospace Salon (MAKS)
scheduled here later this month," Korotkov said, adding "at
least we have passed on all necessary papers to the Defence
Ministry for approval.