Russia delivers aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya to Indian Navy
Solemn delivery of aircraft carrier of Project 11430, INS Vikramaditya, to Indian Navy took place at Severodvinsk-based shipyard Sevmash on November 16, the company’s press center announced.
The delivery certificate was signed by the Russian and Indian sides. The flag of Indian Navy will be hoisted at the ship.
The Vikramaditya will leave the territorial waters of Russia in late November 2013. The ship will arrive at India in late January – early February 2014.
Under the inter-governmental agreement between Russia and India, aircraft-carrying heavy cruiser Admiral Gorshkov has undergone heavy upgrade at Sevmash shipyard. According to the document, aircraft-carrying cruiser is to be donated to India with payment to be received from the Indian side for conversion of the ship into an aircraft carrier and purchase of fighter aircrafts and helicopters produced in Russia.
The work performed by Sevmash is unique in Russia and globally. Actually the shipyard produced a new aircraft carrier, the flight-deck has been extended by 8 meters.
As Sevmash management says, the conversion of the aircraft-carrying heavy cruiser into an aircraft carrier was not an easy task. However, joint efforts of the Russian and Indian sides have lead to the creation of a wonderful ship with high agility and maneuverability as the trials proved. When tested, the ship reached record-high speed of 29.2 knots.
Solemn delivery of the Admiral Gorshkov was held on March 9, 2004. Upon completion of the refitting and upgrading, the aircraft carrier was named Vikramaditya. The sea trials were held in the White and Barents seas in 2012 and in 2013.
