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New Delhi: The naval variant of India's indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) is due to soon begin ramp trials.

Avinash Chander, scientific adviser to the Defence Minister and Director General Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), told India Strategic magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that the LCA-Navy had already done more than 25 test flights from a runway. As these were successful and met the designated parameters, the aircraft will now be deployed at a naval base in Goa to commence ramp flights, probably after the monsoon.

Goa, on the Arabian seafront, has a major naval air station, INS Hansa, where the MiG-29Ks for Indian aircraft carriers are also located.

The station has a 14-degree ramp along with necessary testing sensors and paraphernalia to monitor the flights and was specifically built as part of the indigenous LCA-Navy development programme. But as it is a national naval asset, it is shared by the MiG-29Ks for training pilots and flight tests.

Both the aircraft need the same degree in the ramp, matching the one on INS Vikramaditya, acquired from Russia, and INS Vikrant, now being built at the Kochi shipyard.

Chander said that the flight tests are being conducted with LCA Mark-I to prove certain technologies and to familiarise the naval pilots with them. One aircraft is operational, another is on the anvil and a third will son be available to complete the trials. After that, for full weaponised operations aboard carriers, will come the LCA Mark-II powered by GE 414 engines, according to India Strategic.

The naval variant, being tested from the HAL airport in Bangalore, has a bigger undercarriage that Hindustan Aeronautics has built to facilitate deck landings. The development programme is coordinated by a one-star naval pilot.

India’s largest warship, aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, is “operationally deployed” along with its fleet of MiG 29K combat aircraft, Navy chief Admiral Robin Dhowan said in Kochi on Wednesday

“The Navy has inducted aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is now operationally deployed with MiG— 29K aircraft embarked and being flown by Indian naval pilots,” he told reporters.

The 44,500—tonne Admiral Robin Dhowan procured from Russia at a cost of USD 2.33 billion had arrived in India in January this year and is stationed at its home—base in Karwar in Karnataka.

Navy sources said the aircraft carrier has already taken part in one of the war games conducted recently by the Western Navy.

The aircraft carrier, which does not have air defence guns, is expected to get its weaponry for protection against aerial attacks at its scheduled first refit, they said.

Highlighting the list of capabilities and platforms to be acquired by the Navy in the near future, Dhowan said the first indigeneously built aircraft carrier christened INS Vikrant being built at the Cochin shipyard, will be ready for trials in 2017 and for delivery by 2018—end.

He said the force has already inducted nuclear attack submarine INS Chakra, the P—8I long range reconnaissance and anti—submarine warfare aircraft along with the Shivalik class frigates among others, he said.

MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti) – India has proposed servicing a Russian-built aircraft carrier delivered to the country last month together with Russia’s Sevmash shipyard over the next 40 years, the shipbuilder said Thursday.

Sevmash said the current servicing contract is for 20 years, but that Indian naval officials have proposed to extend that timeframe.

“Our Indian partners have proposed to conduct all service work on the ship together with Sevmash,” the White Sea-based shipbuilder said.

The Vikramaditya was ceremonially handed over to India in November, but only departed from Russia in December, and arrived safely at its new home port Karwar last month.

Sevmash representatives are scheduled to visit India next month as part of an intergovernmental military cooperation commission.

The two countries have longstanding military ties and, among other projects, have cooperated on the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile and the fifth-generation PAK-FA jet fighter still under development.

New Delhi: After a delay of almost five years, India's largest warship aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya today reached its home base Karwar in Karnataka.
The long-awaited USD 2.3 billion aircraft carrier had started its voyage towards India from Russia after it was inducted formally on November 16 there by Defence Minister A K Antony.
The largest warship in our inventory reached Karwar, which is its home base and developed to berth a vessel of this size, Navy officials said here.
The aircraft carrier will now go through the process of getting inducted and be made fully operational as the Indian Navy pilots train to operate from it, they said.
The aircraft carrier is expected to take at least three to four months to get integrated in the force, they said.

The long awaited aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya sailed off to serve in the Indian Navy on Tuesday, after completing a multi year upgrade at a United Shipbuilding Company shipyard.

The craft, originally built in 1987 for the Soviet Navy and christened the Admiral Gorshkov, had been undergoing modernization for the Indian Navy since 2004, with delivery dates repeatedly pushed back by a series of delays.

After leaving the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, on the White Sea, the carrier will dock for several days in Murmansk for customs procedures and refueling, and then will be escorted by Indian Navy vessels to its new home base, Interfax reported.

A Russian crew of more than 180 servicemen will accompany the craft to India to instruct Indian sailors in the use of equipment and help with maintenance and any repairs.

The craft is scheduled to stop at 14 foreign seaports, before reaching India in early January to begin service

SEVERODVINSK, November 16 (RIA Novosti) − Russia handed over to India its aircraft carrier renamed INS Vikramaditya on Saturday after a much-delayed refit and cost escalations that led to disagreements between Moscow and New Delhi.

The Indian Navy finally received its modified carrier – formerly known in Russian as Admiral Gorshkov − at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern town of Severodvinsk.

The ship was first scheduled to be delivered in 2008, but the deadline was repeatedly postponed over the period.

The official ceremony was attended Saturday by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Indian Defense Minister AK Antony, who arrived in Russia on Friday for a four-day visit.

The commissioning papers were signed by deputy director of Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport Igor Sevastyanov and the ship’s Indian captain Suraj Berry.

The Vikramaditya will be escorted to India by a group of warships to secure its safe sail to its base in base in the Arabian Sea through a classified route because it does not have any air defense systems on board, according to Indian website Zee News.

The warship is expected to reach India by February 2014, Russian officials said earlier.

Renamed after a legendary Indian king, the warship was originally as a Project 1143.4 or modified Kiev class aircraft carrier commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1987. It was decommissioned in 1996 after cuts to the Russian Navy fleet.

The refurbishments of the vessel lurched from one crisis to another since the $947 million deal was signed with Russia in 2004 for its purchase and refit.

The delays pushed up the cost of its refurbishing to $2.3 billion, sparking acrimony between Russia and India over the contract.

The ceremony of transfer of an aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" (formerly "Admiral Gorshkov") to the naval forces of India will be held on November 16 at the Sevmash military shipyard in Severodvinsk. It was reported on October 23, ITAR-TASS reported the press service of the plant.
The event program includes a grand building of the Russian and Indian honor guard, raising the flag of the Indian Navy, the signing of official documents.
At present, the formation of the crew "Vikramaditya" to go to India. According to sources, in October in Severodvinsk from India arrived about 200 sailors in the days to come about 100. The total number of Indian crew on an aircraft carrier is more than a thousand people. During the transition to the "Vikramaditya" will also be on duty specialists from commissioning team of Sevmash.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on November 16 that "Vikramaditya" will be delivered to the customer, and November 30 will leave the territorial waters of Russia, and will head to India. He also said that the aircraft carrier sea trials were successful, all the problems identified during the trial last year, completely eliminated. Moreover, the Deputy Prime Minister said, "Vikramaditya" has shown characteristics stated above. In particular, the speed of the ship on the tests was more than 29 knots (about 54 km / h) against the planned 28.
As previously stated by the deputy director general of "Rosoboronexport" Victor Komardin, it is expected that on the way to India, the aircraft carrier will go to 14 ports and by February will arrive in Mumbai.
Initially it was assumed that "Vikramaditya" will be given to the Indian side in 2008, and later moved to the period December 2012 due to increased volume of work performed on an aircraft carrier. Accordingly, substantially increased and their cost: according to unofficial sources, it is about $ 2.3 billion (initially - about 1.5 billion). However, in the summer of 2012 a group of power plant boiler carrier found problems, and therefore the program of the factory running tests had to be cut. By February 2013 the problem had been resolved, and the aircraft carrier trials continued.
On the Packet intergovernmental agreement signed in New Delhi in January 2004, the body of the Russian aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov" was handed over to the Indian side for free on the condition of its modernization at Sevmash and equipment Air Group in Russia. Russia will also undertake training of Indian crew of an aircraft carrier and will create an infrastructure-based ship in the Indian Ocean. It is assumed that the service life is 30 years.
After repair and refurbishment at Sevmash total displacement "Vikramaditya" is 45 tons, maximum length - 283.5 m, maximum width - 59.8 m (increased by 8.8 m). The ship can now carry on board 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K and Ka-27 and Ka-31. The total number of crew - about 2 million people. The hull is equipped with modern equipment, systems and mechanisms. The aircraft carrier has received new navigation and radar systems, complex communication and control aircraft. As a result, according to the Sevmash was actually created an entirely new ship.

Kochi, Sept. 25:  

INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov), the $2.33 billion Russia-built aircraft carrier which will be delivered to Indian Navy on November 15 after a delay of nearly five years, will only have a one-year guarantee.

Victor M. Komardin, Deputy Director-General of Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-owned arms exporter, told media persons here that during the guarantee period, a team of Russian engineers would be stationed in India to take care of “every single screw of the ship.”

Komardin said the warship which would be handed over at the Sevmash shipyard near Moscow, will arrive in Mumbai in February.

Asked about retrofitting the ship with LR-SAM (long-range surface to air missiles) being built jointly by India and Israel, he said Vikramaditya was already an Indian Navy’s asset and that the Navy was free to do whatever it wanted to. But it would have to conform to the Russian design parameters.

Arms supplies

Komardin said for Russia defence co-operation and arms supplies are a part of its politics of friendship. “For us, politics comes first, then comes economics,” he stressed. Though regimes had changed in Russia, politics had not. Indo-Russian exports and imports had been going up every year all along. Russia’s engagement with Indian industry was much stronger and wider than other countries,” he claimed.

He said India and Russia were “genetically friendly” and that the Russian side wanted to carry on the current defence co-operation. He noted that though Russia had traditionally been India’s largest supplier of defence requirements, India was now increasingly sourcing its needs outside of Russia.

He said Russia appreciated India’s efforts to indigenise defence production.

INS Vikramaditya will be handed over to the Indian Navy on November 15 at a formal ceremony in the Russian northern seaport of Severodvinsk on the White Sea.

The delivery date was confirmed at talks Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur held in Moscow on Monday, according to informed sources.

A high-level Indian defence delegation paid a one-day visit to Moscow to prepare an annual session of the Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation that will meet in Russia next month under the chair of the two Defence Ministers.

The upgraded and retrofitted aircraft carrier is now completing sea trials and is expected to return to the Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk in the next few weeks.

The ship was to be delivered last December, but failed the sea trials after its boilers and some other systems malfunctioned. This time, all systems performed flawlessly, including daytime and night takeoff and landings by MiG-29K deck fighter planes, the sources said.

The sides were tight-lipped on the issue of India acquiring a second nuclear submarine from Russia, but the sources confirmed that Moscow was willing to lease another Akula class submarine if India paid for completing its construction. The submarine has been lying half-built at the Amur Shipyard in the Russian Far East since it was mothballed in the 1990s for lack of funds.

On the recent accident in which INS Sindhurakshak sank after rocked by explosions, the Russian side agreed to provide expert assistance for raising the submarine and carrying out its technical inspection.

Russia will also beef up its team of 100 engineers, now deployed in Vishakhapatnam in order to speed up midterm repairs to INS Sindhudhvaj and INS Sindhushashtra. The Russian side also offered to have two more Indian Navy Kilo class submarines undergo midterm repairs in Russia, the sources said.

In reviewing progress of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, the sides noted with satisfaction the completion of preliminary design phase earlier this year. It is hoped that a contract for detailed design could be signed before the end of the year if the sides sort out the issue of costs.

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.

India is unlikely to bill Russia for the delay in the delivery of the refitted aircraft carrier Vikramaditya caused by engine problems last year, said Viktor Komardin, Deputy General Director of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport.

The Vikramaditya, which is already years behind its original 2008 delivery date, was supposed to have been handed over on December 4, 2012, but sea trials in September revealed that the ship’s boilers were not fully functional.

 “In theory, India has the right to do so [to impose a fine]. But we believe that we will find a mutually beneficial solution to this problem in a friendly atmosphere. Actually, we already have, but for now, we’re saying that we will,” Komardin said at LIMA-2013 (Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) in Malaysia.

The contract for aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (former Russian Project 11434 aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov) was signed by Russia and India in 2004. Then the contract cost $1.5 bln. India received the carrier for free but paid that money only for the ship’s repair and modernization, as well as air wing consisting of fighters MiG-29K/KUB and helicopters Ka-28/31. The parties revised contractual terms in 2009, and the contract cost increased up to $2.3 bln.

Goa, June 15
As euphoria over the newly inducted aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya settles down, it is the time for the Navy to equip the warship with two sets of weapons and missile systems.

INS Vikramaditya does not have the Close-In Warfare System (CIWS) and the long range missile firing capability that can pick out targets up to 100 km.

The CIWS is slated to be fitted in April-June 2015 at the Karwar naval base. Sources say the Navy is looking at two options, either the Israeli Barak or the Russian Shitil missiles.

The CIWS system is needed on board large warships as the last protection layer against incoming missiles as well as aircraft. It is like the ships own air-defence system. When deployed, a carrier does not float alone but moves around with a small flotilla of warships. The Navy is banking on ships in the flotilla for air defence support and also for long range missile firing. Some of the Indian warships carry the sea version of the 290 km range hypersonic missile (BrahMos).

The Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAMs) can be fitted on the warship when it goes for its first re-fit after three years. Fitting the LR-SAM will be a complex procedure and it will entail some cutting through the deck, a period of eight-nine months has been factored in for this, sources said.

The LR-SAM, a joint venture between the Israel’s IAI and India’s DRDO, is still being tested. A series of tests are slated between November and March at the integrated test range, Orissa. The LR-SAM has been designated Barak-8 by the IAI. This can be housed in vertical launch units.

Each such unit will hold eight missiles. The warship could carry up to 32 or 48 LR-SAM’s

The Israeli company is working at the front section of the LR-SAM, including its seeker head that guides the missile and the warhead. The DRDO is working at the rear section - the rocket motor, the thrust vector control and fins that can be folded.

Meanwhile, the Navy has joined hands with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to set up a shore-based test facility to train pilots. At present, the Navy has around 10 qualified pilots.

ARKHANGELSK, March 12, /ITAR-TASS/. India has chosen Russia’s Sevmash shipyard for post-warranty servicing of its Vikramaditya aircraft carrier (formerly Russian cruiser Admiral Gorshkov).

The relevant protocol was signed at the 23rd meeting of the subgroup on shipbuilding of the Russian-Indian inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation in Goa on Wednesday, March 12.

An additional agreement will be signed in May, Sevmash officials told ITAR-TASS.

“Factory warranty continues for one year. Further servicing and maintenance of the ship will cover a period of 20-40 years,” they said.

Russia handed over the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy on November 16, 2013.

After a complete overhaul, the ship got a new flight deck and a ski-jump ramp for MiG-29K jet fighters, navigation, radar, communication and flight control systems, other equipment and units. Russia also trained an Indian crew of about 1,500 personnel and will build infrastructure for the aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean. The ship is expected to operate for 25-30 years.

Its full water displacement is 45,000 tonnes, maximum length is 283.5 metres and maximum width is 59.8 metres (increased by 8.8 metres from the original ship). The ship can carry 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K het fighters and Ka-27 and Ka-31 helicopters. Its crew is about 2,000 members.

Russia's Severodvinsk-based defence shipyard Sevmash in the northern Arkhangelsk region, which upgraded the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, will also provide post-warranty services for the ship for the next 20 years.

After the transfer of the ship to the Indian Navy, Sevmash engineers and specialists will provide warranty maintenance services for the aircraft carrier for one year.

During the three-month sea trials the ship demonstrated excellent seaworthiness, speed of 27.9 knots (about 52 kilometres per hour) and manoeuvrability. MiG specialists praised the ski-jump ramp.

All in all, the ship sailed for 19,500 miles during two seasons of sea trials, with 778 flights performed from its deck by aircraft and helicopters.

Russia's Northern Fleet aviation was involved in the sea trials: aircraft and helicopters flew around and over the ship in order to check its radar, air defence, communication and control systems.

During the first stage of the trials in the White Sea, the ship's physical fields were measured, and the crew practiced fuelling and fresh water replenishing operations.

The ship was initially scheduled to be commissioned on December 4, 2012. However its transfer to India was postponed until the end of 2013 after the problems during the sea trials.

Under a package inter-governmental agreement signed in New Delhi in January 2004, the body of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, later renamed to Vikramaditya, was transferred to India for free subject to its upgrading at Sevmash and armament with Russian aircraft.

The overall cost of the contract was estimated at 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, of which about 974 million U.S. dollars were intended for the conversion of the ship into a full-scale aircraft carrier. All work was supposed to be completed in 2008. However the completion date has been postponed. According to unofficial data, the final cost of the aircraft carrier is 2.3 billion U.S. dollars.

MOSCOW, February 7 (RIA Novosti) – An Indian MiG-29 naval jet landed on a refitted former Soviet aircraft carrier Friday, marking the first such operation since the ship was delivered by Russia to the south Asian nation earlier this year.

“An exciting event took place today – the first landing of an [Indian] MiG-29 piloted by an Indian pilot on the Vikramaditya,” Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation vice president Igor Ponomarev told reporters at the ongoing DEFEXPO-2014 exhibition in New Delhi.

The Vikramaditya, formerly known as the Admiral Gorshkov, was handed over to the Indian navy on November 16 at the Semvash shipbuilder and arrived at a naval base in Kanwar in the beginning of January.

The process of the ship’s official commissioning will take between three and four months, according to the Indian navy. A team of Russian specialists arrived onboard the ship and will stay in India for a year to fix any possible glitches if needed.

The Indian Navy commissioned its first squadron of MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters in 2013.

The squadron, dubbed the “Black Panthers,” comprises 12 single-seat MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUBs, which Russia supplied under a 2004 contract with the Indian Defense Ministry.

The aircraft have until now been stationed at an airbase in Dabolim, in the state of Goa on India's west coast.

In January 2010, New Delhi and Moscow signed a deal worth $1.2 billion for the delivery of an additional 29 MiG-29Ks to the Indian navy.

The Vikramaditya is expected to carry up to 24 MiG-29K/KUB fighter jets.

India has built with Russia’s assistance a training facility for naval pilots to practice aircraft carrier operations.

The facility, known as NITKA, features a takeoff ramp and arrestor cables to enable naval aviators to practice high-precision and high-acceleration takeoffs and landings.

One of the chief concerns for Commodore Suraj Berry and his crew when they sailed into Indian waters this month, was that their 44,500-tonne vessel would have problems adapting to the dramatically different climate from what she was used to.

One of the chief concerns for Commodore Suraj Berry and his crew when they sailed into Indian waters this month, was that their 44,500-tonne vessel would have problems adapting to the dramatically different climate from what she was used to. But the INS Vikramaditya has sailed through, as it were, with remarkable robustness.

The Russian guarantee team on board the ship from Sevmash and Nevskoye Bureau had in fact voiced its concerns during trials last year in Severomorsk about how certain dynamic systems, hydraulics and other systems would function in tropical conditions. During her passage through the Arabia Sea, SP's learns that the crew conducted a planned series of 'tropical proof' maneouvers to establish the vessel's robustness in warmer weather — still winter, but far warmer than the severely freezing temperatures of North-West Russia.

SP's has also learnt that a fresh round of 'tropical proof' trials will commence in May this year in the course of routine exercises, where the ship's systems will be meticulously observed in hot weather conditions out at sea, where the vessel will be pushed to the limits of its abilities, including speed, to ensure that ambient heat prevalent in Indian waters doesn't in any way hamper a ship that has never ventured out of freezing weather before this month. A top source on board the ship, currently docked at Karwar, said, "There is nothing to worry about so far. She has come through in style and we expect that to continue. She is a brand new ship in every respect."

Par La Voix de la Russie | L'histoire de la modernisation et du transfert à l'Inde du croiseur porte-avions Admiral Gorchkov transformé en porte-avions Vikramaditya n'était pas brève. En 2004, année de la signature du contrat sur Admiral Gorchkov, personne à Moscou et à New Delhi ne supputait que sa réalisation s'étalerait à près de dix ans et qu'outre des reports de sa date d'exécution, les relations entre les deux pays seraient pendant un certain temps assombries par l'absence du financement, le renchérissement du contrat et des travaux complémentaires non prévus.

Pour l'heure, tous ces problèmes sont dans le passé. La partie russe a démontré sa volonté d'aller à la rencontre du partenaire, et la partie indienne a eu assez de retenue et de tact pour ne pas exacerber les tensions. En fin de compte un bâtiment tout à fait nouveau, équipé des instruments de navigation les plus modernes et capable d'embarquer 30 aéronefs, plus particulièrement les avions MiG-29K et les hélicoptères Ka-27 et Ka-31 se dirige vers les côtes indiennes.

Tous ont gagné. Moscou a confirmé se réputation de partenaire clé de l'Inde dans le domaine de la coopération militaro-technique. Des pertes d'image qui paraissaient imminentes ont été évitées. Ceux qui disaient que Moscou aurait tenté de remettre à l'Inde un patouillard rouillé se sont tus. Tout comme ceux qui accusaient l'Inde de tricher dans le différend sur le prix et de vouloir obtenir presque gratuitement un porte-avions modernisé.

Le contrat Vikramaditya dépasse le cadre de sa simple livraison à la marine indienne. La Russie s'occupe également de la formation de l'équipage indien. En plus, elle créera une infrastructure du stationnement de Vikramaditya en océan Indien. Etant donné que le navire restera fonctionnel pendant 30 ans, on peut dire avec certitude que Vikramaditya est non seulement le présent, mais aussi le futur de la coopération russo-indienne dans le domaine militaro-technique.

L'Inde a actuellement de nombreuses tâches à affronter eu égard à la protection des voies commerciales maritimes, à la nécessité d'assurer l'accès aux ressources et à la défense des intérêts de la diaspora indienne en Asie. Dans ce contexte, l'accent de la construction militaire doit être porté sur la composante navale. En d'autres termes, l'objectif stratégique devient la transformation de l'Inde ayant reçu le porte-avions Vikramaditya en une grande puissance navale.

 Le fait de s'être dotée d'un porte-avions de pointe place la marine indienne dans une catégorie de poids tout à fait différnete. Cela lui permettra de relever un défi ambitieux : contribuer à ce que l'Inde ait des avantages stratégiques dans la région asiatique. Telle est la dimension géopolitique du marché qui a permis de transformer Admiral Gorchkov en Vikramaditya.

L'"Admiral Gorchkov" rebaptisé "INS Vikramaditya" doit combler le vide laissé par le tout premier porte-avions indien, l'"INS Vikrant", retiré du service en 1997.

 Le porte-avions Admiral Gorchkov, un bâtiment rénové de l'époque soviétique, a passé avec succès les essais en mer et quittera les eaux russes le 30 novembre pour être livré à l'Inde avec plus de cinq ans de retard, a annoncé lundi un responsable gouvernemental russe.

 "Les essais en mer ont été passés avec succès", a déclaré le vice-Premier ministre Dmitri Rogozine, cité par les agences russes. "Les défauts qui étaient apparus pendant les essais l'année dernière ont été complètement rectifiés", a-t-il ajouté lors d'un entretien avec le Premier ministre Dmitri Medvedev.
Dmitri Rogozine, responsable de l'industrie de la Défense au sein du gouvernement, a ajouté que le navire, qui sera rebaptisé avant sa livraison INS Vikramaditya, quitterait les eaux russes le 30 novembre en direction de l'Inde.

 L'Inde avait signé avec la Russie en 2004 un contrat de modernisation de ce navire. Mais sa livraison, prévue au départ à l'été 2008, avait été repoussée de plusieurs années en raison de plusieurs différends financiers, de retards dans la livraison d'équipements ainsi que de problèmes apparus lors de tests.

 La facture de l'Admiral Gorchkov a depuis plus que doublé à 2,3 milliards de dollars. Ces problèmes avaient tendu les relations entre Moscou et New Delhi, un de ses alliés de l'époque soviétique et premier client de son industrie militaire.

GORKI (Moscow region), October 14 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian-built aircraft carrier refitted for the Indian Navy will finally leave for India on November 30, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday, following an overhaul that is years late, and cost over twice the original budgeted price.

The carrier Vikramaditya, which is now five years past its original 2008 delivery date, was supposed to have been handed over to India in December 2012 after the contract was renegotiated, but had to undergo additional repairs after last year’s sea trials revealed that the vessel's boilers were not fully functional due to problems with their insulation.

“The problems revealed during sea trials last year have been fixed,” Rogozin, who oversees Russia’s defense and space industries, said at a meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

“The ship is ready a month ahead of the handover ceremony and will leave our territorial waters on November 30,” Rogozin said.

Russian arms exports monopoly Rosoboronexport said in September that the Vikramaditya will be handed over to India on November 15 and was expected arrive at the Indian naval base at the port of Mumbai by February.

The warship, previously known as the Admiral Gorshkov, is a Project 1143.4 or modified Kiev class aircraft carrier commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1987 and decommissioned in 1996 after cuts to the Russian Navy fleet.

The refit of the ship has lurched from one crisis to another since India and Russia signed a $947 million deal in 2004 for its purchase and refit according to the Times of India. Delivery has been delayed three times, pushing up the cost of refurbishing the vessel to $2.3 billion, sparking acrimony between Moscow and New Delhi over the contract.

The Indian Navy has already taken delivery of some of the carrier's MiG-29K naval fighter aircraft, that were completed before their parent ship was ready for sea.

The INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy’s state-of-the art aircraft carrier has passed all tests and is returning from the testing area in the Barents Sea to Sevmash for an official handover ceremony.

All participants in the trials– the Indian and Russian crews, the delivery team, government commission members and observers – are expected soon at Severodvinsk, where the practically combat-ready ship is due to return after two-and-a-half months of sailing and passing tests on the Barents and the White seas.

“The trials programme has been completed, and we expect the aircraft carrier to dock at Sevmash on Friday, September 20,” the shipyard said in a press note, confirming unofficial press reports. “The weather has been less then cooperative, though”

On July 3, the Vikramaditya, refurbished on behalf of the Indian Navy, sailed to the White Sea for repeat trials (after repairs on its steam boilers were completed). This time around, the power plant was beyond reproach – the ship achieved the required 29 knots while demonstrating good manoeuvrability.

This was followed by joint trial missions with the Northern Fleet’s naval aircraft at the Barents Sea. The MiG and the Sukhoi aircraft performed daytime and night-time take-offs and landings, with different sets of armaments and fuel loads. According to unofficial reports, both the equipment and the people operating it performed brilliantly. In any case, the customer’s representatives were on hand to witness the action and were happy with what they saw.

During its return trip, on the White Sea, the ship once again went full steam ahead at the request of the Indian side, achieving 29.5 knots to meet the design specifications. According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta sources, the ship also went full steam in reverse at 15.2 knots. The commander of the Russian crew, Captain Igor Ryabko, and Indian Navy Commodore Suraj Berry took turns at the controls.

Once the Vikramaditya arrives at Sevmash, the shipyard’s workers will get down to preparing the ship for official delivery to the customer. A special handover ceremony has been tentatively scheduled for November 15.

Informed sources tell RIR that the Vikramaditya will reach India’s west coast by the middle of January 2014.  

It is worth reminding that “Vikramaditya” left shores of Severodvinsk on 03 Jul 2013. As scheduled, the sea trials of the ship are progressing well in the White Sea. “Just a couple of hours after undocking, the engine and boilers were started and the ship moved to the trials area of the White Sea,” said Mr Sergey Novoselov, Head of Foreign Military Cooperation Department.

Early July, the sea trials of “Vikramaditya” were witnessed by Rear Admiral Sergey Popov, Head of State Acceptance Committee and Deputy Fleet Commander-in-Chief. He interacted with the Indian Specialists and discussed the schedule of sea trials including issues related to On Board Practical Training of Indian Seafarers. The ship was fuelled by “Orletz” tanker, which took part in exercises & demonstration of fuel transfer evolution.
The sea trials of “Vikramaditya” are thereafter, being monitored by Rear Admiral Hari Kumar, Chairman of Indian Delivery Acceptance Team for the Aircraft Carrier. During interaction with the Admiral, he appreciated the efforts of Sevmash in undertaking large work on the Project during the last eight months and commended the jointmanship of Indian and Russian specialists.
At present, approximately 1700 personnel, including Indian Crew, have embarked the Carrier and around 170 more Indian Crew are expected to arrive shortly for their On Board Practical Training and participating in Delivery Acceptance Trials.
The ongoing sea trials mainly include testing of Electronic Warfare Systems, Aircraft Maintenance Equipment on board and Gauging of Electric Fields. Most important of all, the trials of Main Propulsion Plant, which include the speed and maneuverability trials of the ship are being conducted in the White Sea.
As scheduled, “Vikramaditya” will proceed to the Barents Sea in early

The INS Vikramaditya, India's second aircraft carrier, is out at sea again. By this time tomorrow, the 45,550-ton vessel built at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, north Russia, will be sailing through the Barents Sea.
Over the next two months at least, the ship will be put through stringent testing in the Barents Sea and the White sea. "If all goes well, the Indian tri-colour will be flying atop the INS Vikramaditya this November, after which it will start its journey to India," a senior Navy officer told NDTV.
The INS Vikramaditya, formerly known as Admiral Gorskhov, was to have joined the Indian Navy last year. However, the insulation tiles of its boilers cracked during full power trials, which entail pushing the ship to maximum speed at sea and then testing all systems for accuracy and endurance.

The fire-brick lining - made of special ceramic to help maintain optimum temperature in the boilers - on the inside of the insulation had come off. A senior official told NDTV that the entire insulation was ripped off and a new one has been installed.
 A 500-member Indian Navy team, which was training on-board the Admiral Gorshkov then had spotted the problem with the warship's boilers, especially when the vessel hit top speed of about 30 knots (around 55 kmph).
The repairs delayed delivery of the ship by a year. "Tests carried out in the dry docks have also been successful," the official said.
India and Russia had signed a $2.3-billion (Rs. 14,000 crore approximately at present valuation) contract for refitting the aircraft carrier, which served in the erstwhile Soviet Navy. The first contract was signed in 2004, when no other country was ready to sell such technology to India.
During the sea trails now, all systems of the ship, including its sensor and weapon and propulsion system will be tested and full power trails will be conducted again. A contingent of Indian Navy officials are on board to oversee and inspect the trials.

Aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" will be released in the White Sea to sea trials July 3: during the month will be tested in various operation modes of power plant boilers, said in an interview with the newspaper "Shipwright" production manager № 4 (Military-Technical Cooperation) of the shipyard "Sevmash" Sergei Novoselov.
Then, he said, "is already in the Barents Sea will begin August 3 trial involving aircraft and helicopter deck aircraft and delivery system" ship-to-plane ", which will end on September 30. A crucial stage - landing on the ship in the night; to flying start in late August - early September, when the midnight sun will end. "
In an interview with "Shipwright" S.Novoselov said that "this year in the sea during peak periods on the board will be more than 3 thousand to 2 million in the past year. Increase was due to the fact that the ship and take Indian crew - 1326 officers and sailors who will practice directly into the sea. "
S.Novoselov noted that "in the first half of October, we return to the Sevmash shipyard and prepare to move to India. November 15th aircraft carrier to be delivered to the customer and ready to go into port. We are working on a shorter route - not around Africa, and through the Suez Canal ".
"After passing the carrier Sevmash workers and engineers, under a contract for a year will lead sales service, and then for 20 years - after-sales service and technical support ship" - said S.Novoselov.
Responding to the question of the "Shipwright" about the current state of affairs, S.Novoselov reported that "most of the comments and faults rectified. Still need to complete the repair of ship's main power plant boilers, because of a defect that could not pass the" Vikramaditya "in December last year. Works are underway with representatives of a special design bureau designed the boilers, and the Baltic plant to produce them. Our task - to restore the four boilers before placing the ship in dry dock in basin, and four in May. All operations are presented for repair Indian side of the Ministry of Defense and the military office. "
The full version of the interview S.Novoselova newspaper "Shipwright" is published in the open access on the website of "PO" Sevmash ".