Home>>World
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 09, 2004

Indian navy to have two aircraft carriers by 2011

With the indigenously built air defense ship (ADS) coming out of drawing board, the Indian navy could have two aircraft carriers by 2011, Defense Minister George Fernandes said Monday in Mumbai.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


With the indigenously built air defense ship (ADS) coming out of drawing board, the Indian navy could have two aircraft carriers by 2011, Defense Minister George Fernandes said Monday in Mumbai.

ADS, the indigenously built aircraft carrier is likely to be inducted into the Indian navy by 2011, Fernandes told media persons on board a missile destroyer off Goa coast.

The Press Trust of India Tuesday quoted Fernandes as saying that the country has already finalized the Admiral Gorshkov deal and the Russian aircraft carrier was likely to be inducted into the Indian navy soon.

India's solitary aircraft carrier Ins Virat would be phased out in the next 7 or 8 years, he said.

Chief of Indian Naval Staff Admiral Madhvendra Singh, who was also present on the occasion, said the navy needs three aircraft carriers and the government was well aware of navy's concerns.

However, due to financial constraints, India can only have two aircraft carriers and once the situation improves, the country can have three aircraft carriers, he said.

Admiral Singh also disclosed that Indian navy was scouting the global market for long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

"This is something we need urgently. Though not many are available in the market, we are in search of them," he said.

Asked about Indian navy's move to acquire nuclear-powered submarine, Fernandes said that he was not aware of it.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






India, Russia clear decks for sale of aircraft carrier



 


Martin Lee lets US Senate act as if HK was 51st state ( 4 Messages)

Sexual purity still very important to China's youth, survey shows ( 9 Messages)

What's the meaning of Bush & Blair nominated as candidates for Nobel Peace Prize? ( 4 Messages)

Oyama Hiroshi, a Japanese touching heart of Chinese people ( 2 Messages)

It is unexpectedly easy to defeat "China Threat" theory: Japanese economist ( 162 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved