Indian Navy To Purchase, Upgrade Frontline Fighters, Helicopters
Dated 9/6/2008
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With its air combat capability severely hit by a series of crashes and mishaps at sea, the Indian Navy has finalized bold plans to revive its air strength by buying more front line fighters and helicopters.
The force has finalized global tenders to acquire troop carrying and anti-submarine helicopters as well as to upgrade its fleet of Seaking and Kamov-28 helicopters.
Under new plans, the Navy would acquire more of the MiG-29K fighters from Russia as a follow up order to 16 such fighters, which are expected to arrive in India by next month, Naval sources said. Navy would begin to induct the MiG-29 fighters when the first batch of four aircraft would fly into Naval air station at Goa.
"The delivery of the fighters meant to operate from the carrier INS Vikramaditya is on schedule even though a deadlock still persists on the handing over of the carrier after a price hike demanded by Moscow," an official said.
They said along with moves to buy more MiG fighters, request for proposals had been finalized for undertaking midlife upgrades of Sea King-B and Kamov-28 helicopters. Navy has 14 Sea King anti-submarine and troop carrying helicopters and 12 Kamov choppers.
