Fighters for aircraft carrier Gorshkov on display at Moscow air show

Russia is displaying the upgraded MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighter specially developed for India at the ongoing MAKS-2007 international aerospace show at Zhukovsky air base, outside Moscow.

Russia arranged a demonstration flight of the first MiG-29K for the first time a few months ago. Indian Navy officers present at the demo were delighted with the plane and dubbed it the Sea Wasp, Sergei Chemezov, director-general of Rosoboronexport, Russia's main state arms exporter, told reporters.

The MiG-29K is to be deployed on the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov that India has purchased from Russia. The ship, renamed INS Vikramaditya, is currently being re-fitted at a Russian yard.

There was also speculation in the air that Russia and India may sign an agreement during the show on joint development of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA).

The MTA project provides for the development of an aircraft with a load-carrying capacity of up to 20 tonnes that will be deployed by both the Indian and Russian air forces.

The Ilyushin Design Bureau, the Irkut Corp, and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are to partner the project. India plans to buy more than 100 MTAs, and it is estimated that Russia will need a similar number.