Article

2009-08-09 India-Pakistan

India could agree on extra $1.2 bln for Admiral Gorshkov

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Posted by Steve White 2009-08-09 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 ...The idea of selling India one of our old CVs (which usually gets brought up here)probably is a non-starter. First, there is way too much classified about the design and construction of our supercarriers for us to turn them over to anybody. Secondly, one important reason these 'negotiations' over the Gorshkov have dragged out so long is that somebody on the Indian side is getting some serious baksheesh. Until that individual or individuals gets caught/retires/slips in the shower, this is going to go on for a bit yet.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2009-08-09 10:21|| 2009-08-09 10:21|| Front Page Top

#2 I wouldn't argue the baksheesh angle, that's a universal rule, isn't it.

But how much on the Kitty Hawk (for example) is so classified that forty years after her construction it can't be shared with the Indians? It's not like the world doesn't know how to build a carrier, it's just that no one has the skill-set we have.

Posted by Steve White 2009-08-09 11:19|| 2009-08-09 11:19|| Front Page Top

#3 India has no alternative but to allocate the required $1.2 bln, despite recent objections from the government's accounting office, because the Indian Navy desperately needs to replace its INS Viraat

Yeah, the Russians called that one right. Sink 3 billion into the thing, and then demand another 1.2 after they've already spent that. Is there a formula for calculating exactly how much to extort out of a customer, without making the customer think he's throwing good money after bad?

Posted by gromky 2009-08-09 12:40|| 2009-08-09 12:40|| Front Page Top

#4 India's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that called the ship "junk" in a July report. "It can be seen that the Indian Navy was acquiring a second-hand refitted aircraft carrier that had half the life span of and was 60 percent more expensive that a new one," said the report.

I think that sums things up nicely. India's CAG seems to have his head screwed on straight.

Posted by Secret Master 2009-08-09 14:14|| 2009-08-09 14:14|| Front Page Top

#5 Steve,

Kitty Hawk was laid down in '56 - but her hull design is almost identical to that of Enterprise (CVN-65), and that of the ships that followed her. Any decent naval architect could get a very solid idea of how US CVs are built if he had a chance to run loose on her for a few days. And don't forget America (CV-66)- even though she was laid down in '61, she is considered Kitty Hawk class. Her sinking four years ago in a series of weapons tests was is so classified that the only pictures of it (and it took nearly 30 days of live fire and controlled shots to sink her) are of some debris floating on the surface.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2009-08-09 15:26|| 2009-08-09 15:26|| Front Page Top

#6 Thank you Mike, I stand corrected.

Posted by Steve White 2009-08-09 16:26|| 2009-08-09 16:26|| Front Page Top

#7 But, Mike, I thought that carriers were obsolete, because one little missile could sink them. I mean, in Top Gun, they were afraid of airplanes that had Exocet missiles.
Seriously though, from what I understand, it may be difficult to actually sink a carrier. However, if you damage the flight deck badly enough, the carrier will have to return to port for repairs. And, oh by the way, won't have all that neat air cover she's used to.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia">Rambler in Virginia 2009-08-09 22:00|| 2009-08-09 22:00|| Front Page Top

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