Chapter 1047 Selling Aircraft Carrier

Aircraft carrier! Hearing Andre's words, the visiting Indians were immediately delighted.

Although India is not strong now, in the hearts of Indians, they have always believed that they are the most powerful! They have great ambitions! At the same time, since India is surrounded by the sea on both sides, India has always attached great importance to the construction of the navy!

At the same time, the Indian Navy is also one of the first countries to acquire an aircraft carrier. As early as the late 1950s, when India had just gained independence and its economy was still very backward, India purchased the fifth "Hercules" of the British Royal Navy's "Dignity" class light aircraft carrier and renamed it "Vikramadity", which is a transliteration meaning "completely defeat those who dare to fight me", becoming the first country in Asia to own an aircraft carrier after the war.

This is a new aircraft carrier. Its construction started in 1944 in preparation for World War II. However, after the end of World War II, the status of Britain's empire plummeted. The economic downturn forced them to continuously cut their navy, and the construction of this aircraft carrier was interrupted. It was not until 1958 that India resumed construction and modernized it after purchasing it. It was completed in 1961 and equipped the Indian Navy.

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However, this aircraft carrier now looks too small! Its standard displacement is 15,700 tons, its full load displacement is 19,500 tons, its length is 213.3 meters, its width is 24.4 meters, its flight deck is 210 meters long, 39 meters wide, and its draft is 7.3 meters. It uses two steam turbines with a total power of 40,000 horsepower, dual shafts, and a maximum speed of 23 knots. Even a frigate can't catch up with this speed!

At the same time, this aircraft carrier can only carry the British "Sea Hawk" fighter-bombers and the French "Tradewind" anti-submarine aircraft, which are barely second-generation aircraft at best. Compared with today's advanced fighter jets, its combat effectiveness is too poor!

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Therefore, up to now, the Indian Navy has been quite unimpressed with its own aircraft carrier. Although this is an old ship with outstanding military achievements, in the third Indo-Pakistani war that broke out in 1971, the Vikrant aircraft carrier sank and damaged several Pakistani warships in succession, completely cutting off the traffic and maritime military force projection between East Pakistan and West Pakistan. Unfortunately, that was more than a decade ago!

The Indian Navy needs a new aircraft carrier! This has been argued many times in the Indian military.

However, India does not have the ability to manufacture aircraft carriers, so the only option for India is to purchase them from abroad! However, how to purchase them from abroad is their biggest headache!

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They turned their attention to Britain, which was preparing to sell its old ship, the Hermes.

This warship is also an old ship that was difficult to build during World War II. It is a British "Centaur" class. Construction began in June 1945 and it was launched in February 1953. After many suspensions and reworks, it was not until November 1959 that it was put into active service in the navy. The standard displacement of this warship is 23,900 tons and the full load displacement is 28,700 tons. The power plant is 2 gas turbines and the maximum speed is 28 knots.

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Historically, it was not until April 1987 that the Indian Navy purchased this ship from the United Kingdom at a relatively low price of 25 million pounds. After modification and overhaul, it was renamed "Virat". At the same time, 12 Sea Harrier vertical/short take-off and landing fighters for use on the ship were also purchased.

The Indian Navy now has two aircraft carriers, which means it can show off its power in Asia at any time.

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But now, the situation has changed a lot. The Hermes had experienced the Falklands War. During the war, it was attacked several times. The last time, it almost fell along with the American aircraft carrier in the attack of the Sunburn! Although it did not sink in the end, it was only barely able to drive back to the UK!

The condition of this warship is already quite bad! Although the British offered a lower price of only 20 million pounds, the Indian Navy has been evaluating it and feels that they have bought this piece of junk and it may fall into the sea without much operation!

And now, the Soviet Union is asking the Indians whether they are interested in the Kiev, and of course they are!

Kiev is still the flagship of the Pacific Fleet. This warship has been in service for less than eight years and is at its strongest! At the same time, this warship has also made great achievements in the war and has beaten the US Navy to a pulp many times!

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With a displacement of 40,000 tons and the ability to carry more than 20 advanced fighter jets, the combat effectiveness of this aircraft carrier is far stronger than that of the Hermes and even stronger than that of the Vikrant. If India obtains this warship, the combat effectiveness of the Indian Navy will be able to reach a new level!

However, the Soviets would never give it to us for free. What price would the Soviets offer for this warship? If it was too much, we couldn't afford it!

Rajiv glanced at General Kumaramangalam. Rajiv also knew the navy's needs, but he didn't know the details very well, so he had to listen to the opinions of the general he brought with him.

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General Kumaramangalam understood and said to Andrei: "My old friend, Marshal Andrei, our navy is interested in purchasing a new aircraft carrier, but if the price is too high, we cannot afford it. As you know, our country's GDP is less than a fraction of the Soviet Union's."

We want it, but we don’t have the money. General Kumaramangalam has made his point quite clear!

Andrei turned his head and asked Gorshkov, who was standing beside him: "Comrade Gorshkov, how much did it cost to build the Kiev?"

Gorshkov said: "We in the Soviet Union are a planned economy, and many things cannot be calculated. According to preliminary estimates, this aircraft carrier cost us about 2 billion rubles."

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2 billion rubles! Hearing this, the Indians were immediately embarrassed. Even if the Soviets did not raise the price and sold it to them at the original price, they could not afford it!

Now, with the continuous expansion of the Soviet Union, the ruble has also begun to enter the international market. India also has ruble foreign exchange reserves, but it is only 300 million rubles!

Everyone looked at Andre. If Andre said that he would sell it to India at the original price, India really couldn't afford it! However, it was unlikely that the Soviets would sell it to them at a low price.

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Why? This aircraft carrier is not a retired aircraft carrier. It is a main aircraft carrier and the flagship of the Soviet Pacific Fleet! It is in good condition. Selling it to us at the original price is already a favor.

"Considering the affordability of our Indian friends, I think we should give them a discount of 10% and sell them to India for 200 million rubles." Andrei said, "Do you think you can afford this price?"

200 million rubles! Suddenly, everyone was overjoyed!