"A
Russian military delegation offered India Project 23000E 'Storm'
(E stands for export-oriented, Eksportny) heavy aircraft carrier
several weeks ago. The surface combatant is known to have a full displacement
of about 100,000 t and a price of about USD5.7 billion. The proposed
carrier has been jointly developed by the Krylov State Research Center
(Russian acronym: KGNC) and the Nevskoye Design Bureau (Russian acronym:
NPKB, a subsidiary of the United Shipbuilding Corporation). The building
of the Project 23300 'Storm' aircraft carrier is supposed to take about
10-11 years," a source in the Indian Navy said.
He added that India`s Ministry of Defense (MoD) would consider the Russian
offer. "However, the Russian proposal will not take a kind
of precedence. The MoD is planning to review it in strict accordance
with the standard procedure. The final decision will be announced in
late 2016," the source added.
In May 2015, the Indian Navy allocated INR300 million (USD4.5 million)
to start design works on a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier intended
for the service. The ship is supposed to be named 'Vishal'.
It should be noted that India is working closely with the United States
to develop an aircraft carrier. In 2015, both countries established
the US-India Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation
(JWGACTC) to address the issue. The third meeting of the group is supposed
to take place between August 9 and August 12 in Washington DC.
The Project 23000 multirole aircraft carrier is designed for operations
far in the ocean, attacks on land-based and naval targets, provision
of combat stability for friendly naval forces and air defense of Marines
and supporting ships during amphibious assaults. The future ship is
supposed to displace about 95,000 tons, measure 330 m long and have
a speed of 30 knots. The carrier is to carry sophisticated radio equipment,
radars and self-defense systems. Her complement will be several thousand
servicemen, including the personnel of her air wing.
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A
nuclear powered Project 23000E Storm aircraft carrier may displace 80,000
to 85,000 tonnes with some 70 aircraft on board.