According to the Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation statement from Tuesday, handover of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (extensively modernised former Soviet-era carrier Admiral Gorshkov) is further delayed to fall 2013.
The contract for modernization of aircraft-carrying cruiser 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 Indian Navy in 2008. However, due to increased scope of works, the ship’s delivery date was again postponed for 2013.
More than 400 subcontractors are involved in the project, including 10 Indian companies which supplied communication systems, protective coating, a telephone exchange, life rafts, pumps, hygiene and galley equipment, etc.
The INS Vikramaditya will be a 90-per cent new ship and remain in service for 40 years after all the major retrofitting has been completed.
The ship 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. It will have an air wing consisting of Russian-made MiG-29K jet fighter planes and Kamov Ka-31 early warning radar helicopters.
[mappress] Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, October 3, 2012; Image: sevmash