Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya Completes Its Sea Trials

Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (former Russian carrier Gorshkov) has completed its sea trials with flying colours and managed to achieve a top speed of 32 knots, reports The Hindu.

Last year, the aircraft carrier was subjected to extensive trials for the first time. While a substantial scope of the ship’s equipment and aviation trials were completed by Sevmash shipyard during this period, the main propulsion plant trials to full power could not be completed due to defects encountered on boiler section. It was a major setback as the delivery of the ship was pushed by a year.

Now, the ship will set sail for the White Sea where further speed and aviation trials will be performed.

The contract for modernization of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov (renamed into INS Vikramaditya) for Indian Navy was tied in 2004. It became the largest export contract in Russian-Indian military technical cooperation. Initially, modernization was evaluated as $616 mln, and the ship was planned to join the Indian Navy in 2008. However, due to increased scope of works, the ship’s delivery date was again postponed for late 2013.

More than 400 subcontractors were involved in the project, including 10 Indian companies which supplied communication systems, protective coating, a telephone exchange, life rafts, pumps, hygiene and galley equipment, and many more.

The 284 metre-long and 60-metre-high INS Vikramaditya has a displacement of 45,000 tons, and an endurance of 13,500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at a cruising speed of 18 knots. When delivered, the INS Vikramaditya will be a 90-per cent new ship and will remain in service for 40 years.

Indian Navy, July 29, 2013