Chapter 1046： sell aircraft carrier

Aircraft carrier! Hearing Andre's words, the visiting Indians were instantly overjoyed.

Although India's national strength is weak now, in the hearts of Indians, they have always been considered the most powerful! They have big ambitions! At the same time, because India is surrounded by seas 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 become independent, and its economy was still very backward, India purchased the British Royal Navy's "Dignity"-class light aircraft carrier. The fifth "Hercules" was renamed "Vikrant", which is a transliteration, which means "completely defeat those who dare to fight with me", becoming the first country in post-war Asia to have an aircraft carrier .

This aircraft carrier is a new aircraft carrier. Construction started in 1944. It was prepared for World War II. However, after World War II ended, the status of the British Empire as the sun never set, and the economic downturn caused them to continuously reduce their navy. , The aircraft carrier also interrupted the project. This waited until 1957. After India purchased it, it restarted and modernized it. It was completed in 1961 and equipped with the Indian Navy.

It's just that this aircraft carrier looks too small now! It has a standard displacement of 15,700 tons, a full-load displacement of 19,500 tons, a total length of 213.3 meters, a width of 24.4 meters, a flight deck of 210 meters long, a width of 39 meters, and a draft of 7.3 meters. Using 2 steam turbines with a total power of 40,000 horsepower, dual shafts, and a maximum speed of 23 knots, even a frigate cannot keep up with such a speed!

At the same time, this aircraft carrier can only carry British "Seahawk" fighter-bombers and French "Tradewind" anti-submarine aircraft, which are barely enough for second-generation aircraft at most. Compared with the current advanced fighter aircraft, the combat effectiveness is too poor!

So, up to now, the Indian Navy has been quite unfamiliar with its own aircraft carrier. Although this is an old ship with outstanding military exploits, in the third Indo-Pakistani war that broke out in 1971, the aircraft carrier Vikrant sank and damaged many Pakistani warships, completely cutting off East Pakistan and West Pakistan. traffic between and the projection of military power at sea. Unfortunately, that was more than ten years ago!

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

However, India does not have the ability to manufacture aircraft carriers itself, so India's only option is to outsource! However, how to outsource is one of their biggest headaches!

They set their sights on Britain, which at this time was preparing to sell their old ship, the Athletics.

This warship, which also belongs to the dystocia old ship of the World War II era, is the British "Centaurus" class. Construction started in June 1944, and it was launched in February 1953. After many shutdowns and rework, it was not until November 1959 that it joined the Navy. The warship has a standard displacement of 23,900 tons and a full-load displacement of 28,700 tons; the power plant is 2 gas turbines, and the maximum speed is 28 knots.

Historically, until April 1986, the Indian Navy purchased this ship from the United Kingdom at a low price of 25 million pounds. After modification and overhaul, it was renamed "Virat"; at the same time, the ship was also purchased. 12 Sea Harrier VTOL/STOL fighters.

The Indian Navy, which has two aircraft carriers at the same time, can be considered to be able to show off its power at any time in Asia.

But now, the situation has changed a lot. The Athletics God has experienced the Falklands War. During the war, it was attacked several times. The last time, it almost fell with the American aircraft carrier in the sun. middle! Although it didn't sink in the end, it was only reluctantly driven back to the UK!

The condition of this warship is already quite bad! Although the British offered a lower price, which was only 20 million pounds, the Indian Navy has been evaluating and felt that it had bought this junk, and it might not have done much, and it was about to fall into the sea!

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

The Kyiv is still the flagship of the Pacific Fleet. This warship has been in service for less than eight years, and it is the most robust period! At the same time, this warship is also illustrious, and it has beaten the US Navy to the ground many times!

With a displacement of 40,000 tons, it can carry more than 20 advanced fighter jets. The combat power of this aircraft carrier is far stronger than that of the Athletics and the Vikrant. If India obtains this warship, then The combat effectiveness of the Indian Navy can reach a new level!

It's just that the Soviets will never give it to themselves in vain. What price will the Soviets offer for this warship? Too much, I can't bear it!

Rajiv glanced at General Kumaramangalam. Rajiv also knew the needs of the navy However, after all, Rajiv didn't know much about the details, so now he has to listen to the generals he brought. view.

General Kumaramangalam understood and said to Andre: "My old friend, Marshal Andre, our navy intends to buy a new aircraft carrier, but if the price is too expensive, we can't afford it, you We also know that our country's gdp is less than a fraction of that of the Soviets."

If you want it, you just don't have the money. General Kumaramangalam has expressed his intentions quite clearly!

Andrei turned his head and asked Gorshkov, who was beside him, "Comrade Gorshkov, how much did we spend in building the Kyiv?"

Gorshkov said: "Our Soviet is a planned economy, and many of them cannot be calculated. According to preliminary estimates, this aircraft carrier also cost us about 2 billion rubles."

2 billion rubles! Hearing this, the Indians were immediately embarrassed. Even if the Soviets did not increase the price and sold it to themselves at the original price, they would not be able to 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 sold it to India at the original price, India would really not be able to afford it! However, it is impossible for the Soviets to sell to their side at a low price.

Why? This aircraft carrier is not a retired aircraft carrier, it is the main aircraft carrier and the flagship of the Soviet Pacific Fleet! People use it well and sell it to their own side, and the original price is already a favor.

"Considering the affordability of our Indian friends, I think we will sell it to India at a discount of 200 million rubles." Andrei said, "Do you think we can afford this price?"

200 million rubles! Suddenly, everyone was overjoyed!