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August 28, 2003

India is paying Russia $550 million to refurbish and upgrade the Russian Kiev class carrier Admiral Gorshkov. After the three year project is completed, the carrier will enter service in the Indian navy. India will receive the carrier for free, the $550 million repair fee being the sole payment. The 45,000 ton Admiral Gorshkov was withdrawn from service by 1991. Russia could not afford to keep carriers in service after the Cold War ended. India has been negotiating for the last ten years to get one or more of the Kiev class ships. The carrier will go to sea with 24 MiG-29K fighters and six helicopters. India is paying over a billion dollars for fifty MiG-29K aircraft. The carrier will carry Russian made electronics, as well as 12 P-500 Bazalt (SS-N-12) cruise missiles and the four SA-N-9 surface-to-air missile launchers. The ship requires a crew of 1200.