India and Russia to Sign $4bn of Navy Contracts

India and Russia are expected to sign military cooperation deals worth $4bn, according to a Russian daily.

The contracts signed between the nations include $2.35bn for refitting the long-delayed aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

The aircraft carrier, rechristened INS Vikramaditya by the Indian Navy, is scheduled to be delivered by 2013, according to RIA Novosti.

In addition, the defence deals also include a $1.2bn delivery contract for 29 MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters, as well as the final agreement for the joint manufacture of fifth-generation fighters and work on a multirole transport aircraft.

The military technical cooperation contracts will be signed during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to India on 11-12 March.