Vladimir Karnozov

By one measure more than 32 years in the making, India’s new aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, departed Severodvinsk harbor on June 8 and sailed into the White Sea for trials, including takeoffs and landings of Mikoyan MiG-29K/KUB fighters and Kamov Ka-27 helicopters. Although the INS Vikramaditya began sea trials <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-defense-perspective/2011-12-09/indias-ex-russian-aircraft-carrier-finally-nearing-sea-trials">a couple of weeks behind schedule</a>, shipbuilder Sevmash says the vessel and its support program are on track for delivery as agreed by year-end.


The 45,300-tonne vessel is a “through-deck” aircraft carrier of the Stobar (short takeoff but arrested recovery) type with a crew of 1,924. Originally a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of Project 1143.4, the ship was laid down under the name of Baku on Dec. 26, 1978, at the Nikolaev Shipbuilding Plant on the Black Sea coast. After the breakup of the Soviet Union it was rechristened the Admiral Gorshkov and served until decommissioning in 1998. Then the Gorshkov was offered to India as an alternative to an Invincible-class “Harrier carrier” from the UK.


Moscow and New Delhi agreed terms in March 2004 and the cruiser went into dry dock in December 2005. The ship was relaunched in November 2008 as a Project 11430 aircraft carrier. Since then the cost of work has been renegotiated several times; the rebuilding contract value rose to $1.75 billion. With the inclusion of separate contracts for training, ground equipment and shore infrastructure installations, the grand total came to $2 billion.


Although the INS Vikramaditya was produced from a Soviet-era cruiser, Sevmash general manager Andrei Diachkov asserts that the warship “is as good as new. Never before has an aircraft carrier undergone such massive modernization. Given proper maintenance, it will stay in service for up to 40 years.


“In fact, the shipyard did not make much profit on this contract, as most of the contract cost went to the suppliers of equipment and systems,” Diachkov said. Sevmash placed more than 800 contracts for vendor items with 400 suppliers in Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Finland, France, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK. Ten Indian companies supplied communication systems, protective coating, telephone exchange, life rafts, pumps, and hygiene and galley equipment.


India operates 16 MiG-29K/KUBs delivered in 2010-2011, and has 29 more on order. None of these will be involved in the trials. Instead, operations this year will involve Russian-owned prototypes and rebuilt MiG-35s, after the latter type was eliminated from the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-defense-perspective/2012-01-31/rafale-first-export-success-will-be-10-billion-plus-indian-order">Indian MMRCA tender</a>. To support Navy operations, the Vikramaditya has been fitted with a 14-degree ski ramp and three arrestor cables. The ship’s hangar is 420 feet long, 82 feet wide and 23 feet high and can store up to 34 MiGs and Kamovs.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

India’s New Russian Carrier Finally Goes To Sea

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Latest certified brokers bring the total number recognized under the IADA program to 233

IADA Recognizes 16 More as Certified Aircraft Brokers

Financier has securitized $6.7 billion thanks to nine BJETS offerings

GJC Raises $659M in Securities for Bizjet Financing

First African delivery goes to Nigerian-based BUA Group

Bombardier Global 8000 Fleet Expands to Africa

Jessica Reed

The group's initial findings will be presented in September

AfBAA Begins Landmark African Bizav Research Project

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

NASA is expanding the envelope as it readies aircraft for supersonic flight over communities

NASA’s X-59 Reaches Mission Performance of Mach 1.4

Brokers cite tightening demand, bonus depreciation in strong market

Jefferies: Bizjet Brokers Increasingly Upbeat on Market

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Southeast Asian state validated the aircraft’s Chinese type certificate

Indonesia Approves AutoFlight’s Autonomous eVTOL Aircraft

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

More In Aircraft