India had early this year agreed to pay$ 2.33 billion, over three times the $ 974 million it had signed acontract for the 45,000-tonne warship in 2004, after a three-yearnegotiation.
"The $ 29 million was paid for stationing 40-oddIndian Navy personnel in Russia for over five years since 2004 toassist, monitor and work on the repair and re-equipping of Gorshkov," aNavy officer said here today.
"The $ 85 million for repairtechnical documentation was for buying all detailed charts, diagramsand instructions for the machinery and equipment that are on-boardGorshkov," the officer said.
The technical documentation wasbought as a complete set right away because Gorshkov, rechristened INSVikramaditya would be the only warship of its class that India wasbuying from Russia. Its delivery is scheduled for end of 2012.
"Withthese documents, India can carry on with repair and maintenance of thewarship within India independently without having to send the aircraftcarrier back to Russia, as we do in the case of Kilo class submarines,"he said.
The documentation cost would be much lower than themaintenance and repair cost of the warship if it had to go to Russiafor the purpose, leave alone the cost of sailing there and returning toIndia, he added.
