AeroIndia 2009: Russia delivers 4 MiG-29K fighters to India

Russia has delivered the first four of the 16 MiG-29K (NATO: Fulcrum-D) naval fighters contracted by India, and will supply the remaining 12 aircraft by the end of 2009, the head of Russia's military aircraft maker MiG said on Thursday at the AeroIndia show in Bangalore.

Russia signed a contract with India in January 2004 for the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUBs as part of a $750 million deal to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier currently being retrofitted in Russia for the Indian Navy. The aircraft will later be deployed on board the aircraft carrier, which is due to enter service in the Indian navy in 2012 as INS Vikramaditya.

"The first four aircraft have been inspected by Indian technical experts and the pilots are taking a five-month flight training course," Mikhail Pogosyan said at a news conference. He added that the remaining fighters would be delivered to India by the yearend, as stipulated by the contract.