Indian Navy buys aircraft sans weapons package

The Indian Navy has been slammed for finalising the MiG 29K naval fighter aircraft deal without their weapons package.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) said the “Indian Navy followed a flawed approach in acquiring new fighter aircraft by not finalising the associated weapon package with the contract for the aircraft.”

11 out of the 16 MiG 29K aircraft, worth Rs 34.05bn ($735m), have been delivered in 2009 and May 2011.

“No armament contracted for was delivered till October 2010, adversely affecting the operational capabilities of the aircraft,” the report added.

In 2004, India finalised a deal with Russia to acquire 16 MiG 29K aircraft as part of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier contract.