Article Posted on : - Jan 18, 2010

A file photo.

NEW DELHI (BNS): India is ready to place an order of 29 more MiG-29Ks with Russia. A contract of $1.2 billion will be signed between the two countries after the approval from Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

According to the Times Of India, a Russian team will arrive in New Delhi this week to fine tune the contract after it got the approval of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, top defence sources said.

"The defence ministry is also now also seeking CCS approval for the fresh contract for aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov's refit, with the renegotiated price of slightly over $2.3 billion," said a source.

The aircraft will be later deployed on board the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, which is due to enter service in the Indian Navy in 2012 as INS Vikramaditya.

Defence ministry sources said these aircrafts will be in addition to 16 MiG-29Ks already contracted through the initial $1.5-billion Admiral Gorshkov package deal, which earmarked $974 million for the aircraft carrier's refit and the rest for the fighters, inked in January 2004, as per the report.

In January 2004, Russia and India signed a contract stipulating the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29K and four two-seat MiG-29KUB, to New Delhi, as part of a $750 million deal to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier currently being retrofitted in Russia for the Indian Navy.