New Delhi: India today (Dec 2, 2003) struck a deal with Russia for acquisition of the much talked-about 44,500 tonne aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov" at a cost of Rs 3,000 crores, ending months of protracted negotiations.

Announcing this, Naval Chief Admiral Madhvendera Singh said the warship, armed with a squadron of MiG-29k fighters, would be almost 70 per cent new and be ready to be inducted in four-and-half years time.

PTI