Scoot: Mate you are probably right about both parties bearing some of the blame each, though IMHO it is all India’s fault, they knew the condition of the ship before they even started pricing it, then look at the fiasco over the price and finally this. Sorry mate, I can’t see how the Russians could be in the wrong here. They just wanted to sell off their scrap to make a few dollar to kick start their terrible economy, it’s not their fault that this has happened. India is well known for wanting far too much for far too cheap a price- they claim that they don’t have the money yet they have one of the best economys in the world and how many countries are on a spending spree atm to boost their navies- I can only think of one-CHINA, the rest of the world has reduced their military budget.

Fed: Mate I’m not harsh on Russian equipment, Soviet maybe but not Russian- however, their shipping industry seems to lack the same ability to built equipment that lasts forever as what the Aircraft and Army supliers do. For example we all know that there are wearhouses in Russia that house old artillery that can be used again in a time of need, and look at all the old Russian planes still flying around the world- heck even old Mig-15’s were recently retired in some former eastern European countries.

But the naval side is the let down here- look at the old Moskva and Leningradska- coincidence that they both had fires in their engine rooms? The Kievs had their problems as well including engine room fires and what about that sub whos reactor fell through the hull and sat on the bottom for months? And finally, the less said about the reactors on the Alpha class subs the better I think. With all this, can you blame me for being harsh on this topic?

They will still go ahead with the deal, they will accept the Migs without question- at least they are coming along nicely (First one off the production line just made it’s first flight not long ago). The ADS however should now be stepped up in it’s production efforts and any follow on orders of Migs might now have to contend with a Naval Tejas which might now be kicked in to gear as India starts to realise that if it wants to be a big gun in the world- it has to stop relying on outsiders for its equipment and get its act together in house. I agree with you though that they maybe a great source of carrier building, but sadly they must get it together- no one in their right mind will buy a carrier, or anything else for that matter, from a country who takes for ever to decide on what it wants and even longer to build it.

Correct me if I am wrong, but weren’t there supposed to be three ADS’s? This was supposed to give the IN four carriers with three at sea at any one time. And how much longer can they keep Viraat going? She really is starting to show her age.

Pi: Mate they are already building that facility at Dabolim, where the base has been undergoing a major reconstruction of both facilities and ammenities for all INS flying ops and aircraft.

SLL: Varyag is undergoing sea trials now with the PLAN, afterwhich she is set to become the PLAN’s Training carrier- what people here are failing to understand is that yes it is a training carrier, but for a country that has never had a working carrier the first thing we can expect to see from them is the Varyag going to sea with a load of helos while the ships crew learn how to use the ship- then later she will start deploying her SU-33’s that are currently on order (40 IIRC). What I’d like to know is, Have the PLAN announced yet the new name of Varyag?