INS Vikramaditya

This article contains information about an as-yet unfinished ship. It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the ship.

The INS Vikramaditya under reconstruction
Career
Builder:	Chernomorskiy yard, Nikolayev
Laid down:	December 1978 (as Admiral Gorshkov)
Launched:	April 17, 1982 (as Admiral Gorshkov) December 4, 2008 (as Vikramaditya)
Commissioned:	2012 (Sea trials in 2011)[1]
Fate:	Refurbishing, prior to delivery
General characteristics
Displacement:	45,000 tons full load
Length:	273.1 m overall
Beam:	31.0 m
Draught:	8.2 m
Propulsion:	4 shaft geared steam turbines, 140,000 hp
Speed:	32 knots (59 km/h)
Endurance:	13500 miles at 18 knots
Armament:	8 CADS-N-1 Kashtan CIWS
Aircraft carried:	16 Mikoyan MiG-29K Or HAL Tejas Or Sea Harrier 6 Ka-31 'Helix' HAL Dhruv

INS Vikramaditya (Sanskrit: विक्रमादित्य, Vikramāditya) is the new name for the former Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been procured by India, and is estimated to enter service in the Indian Navy after 2012.^[2]

The Vikramaditya is a modified Type 1143 Kiev class aircraft carrier built in 1978-1982. The ship is presently being extensively refitted at Sevmash shipyard in Russia. It is projected to replace India's only aircraft carrier, INS Viraat.

Purchase

On January 20, 2004, after years of negotiations, Russia and India signed a deal for the sale of the ship, the then-Admiral Gorshkov. The ship was free, while India will pay US$800 million for upgrade and refit of the ship, as well as at least an additional $1bn for the aircraft and weapons systems. The Navy looked at equipping the carrier with the E-2C, but decided not to^[3].

The deal also includes the purchase of 12 single-seat Mikoyan MiG-29K 'Fulcrum-D' (Product 9.41) and 4 dual-seat MiG-29KUB aircraft (with an option for 14 more aircraft)$1bn, 6 Kamov Ka-31 "Helix" reconnaissance and anti-submarine helicopters, torpedo tubes, missile systems, and artillery units. Facilities and procedures for training pilots and technical staff, delivery of simulators, spare parts, and establishment maintenance on Indian Navy facilities are also part of the contract.

Upgrade plans involve stripping all the weaponry and missile launcher tubes from the ship's foredeck to make way for a Short Take-Off But Assisted Recovery (STOBAR) configuration^[4]. This will convert the Gorshkov from a hybrid carrier/cruiser to a pure carrier.

The announced delivery date for INS Vikramaditya was August 2008 ^[5], which would allow the carrier to enter service just as the Indian Navy's only light carrier INS Viraat retires. The INS Viraat’s retirement has been pushed out to 2010-2012^[6]. The issue with the delays has been compounded by the ongoing cost overruns. This has resulted in high-level diplomatic exchanges to get these issues resolved. India has agreed to pay an additional US $1.2 billion for the project, more than doubling the original cost.^[7] However, ongoing delays with the Vikramaditya's delivery schedule to 2012 could mean that even this postponement of the Viraat's retirement may not come soon enough and the Indian Navy may find itself without an aircraft carrier for the first time since the 1960s. The indigenous Vikrant-class aircraft carrier has been delayed by a year and will be commissioned in the year 2013 from the proposed 2012.^[8]

In July 2008, it was reported that Russia was increasing the total price to USD 3.4 Bn because of unexpected cost overuns due to the deteriorated condition of the ship.^[9] However, India has only paid $400 million as of November 2008. The Russians were seriously considering keeping the ship themselves if India did not pay for the refit within a reasonable time.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2008, Government sources in India stated that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had finally decided in favour of purchasing Admiral Gorshkov as the best option available.^[10]

In February 2009, Russia asked for an additional $700 million payment for the completion of the reconstruction of the Admiral Gorshkov. This brings the total price requested by the Russians to $2.9 billion, more than three times the originally-contracted price. India claims it could purchase a new carrier from the U.K. or France for $2.9 billion and probably get it delivered as quickly as the Russians are proposing. Another alternative is accelerate the Vikrant class carrier program.^[11]

Design

The Mig-29Ks are to be based on the INS Vikramaditya

The ship will be operated in a STOBAR configuration, with a 14.3 degree ski-jump on the bow and three arrestor wires on the stern of the angled deck. This will allow operation of MiG-29K and Sea Harrier aircraft. The maximum take off length for the Mig-29K on the Vikramaditya will be between 160-180 meters.

Because of the short runway and the lack of steam catapults on the Vikramaditya, the MiG-29K will only be able to take off safely at maximum engine power in full afterburning mode^{[citation needed]}. Moreover, it is very unlikely that the MiG-29K will be able to take off with a full payload and maximum fuel tanks^{[citation needed]}. When used in the air-to-ground or long range/endurance air-to-air scenario, this will be a severely limiting factor for the MiG-29K. It also seems highly unlikely that both launches and landings will be able at the same time on the Vikramaditya, another limiting factor.^[12]

The nature of its original design, however, means that INS Vikramaditya will still fall short of comparably-sized western counterparts like the FNS Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, with its 40-plane complement that leans heavily to fighter jets. Ranges given for the refitted Vikramaditya seem to average 12-16 fighters and 4-16 of the compact Ka-28/31 helicopters^{[citation needed]}; diagrams seem to suggest total stowage space for a “footprint” of no more than 15-16 Mig-29Ks, with each Kamov helicopter sporting a comparative footprint of about 0.4, and about 5-6 open footprint spots on deck^{[citation needed]}.

Status

All reconfiguration work is being completed at Severodvinsk, Russia^[13]; however it has been delayed by three years due to underestimating the amount of cabling needed and will be commissioned by 2012.^[14] An expert level discussion on technical and financial matters is held between India and Russia to sort out the issues.^[15] The 16 Mig-29K/KUB fighters delivery will start in spring of 2009.^[16] A compromise was finalised and India will pay an extra amount. Russia will install new systems instead of repairing the old ones and the carrier will be delivered in 2010. It will then begin an eighteen month sea trial before it is commissioned in to the Indian Navy in 2012.^[17] The hull work was completed by 2008^[18] and the Vikramaditya was launched on the December 4, 2008.^[19]

On July 2, 2009, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said that the carrier should be completed as soon as possible so it could be delivered to India in 2012^[20]

Naming

"Vikramāditya" is Sanskrit for "Brave as the Sun"^[21] and was the title of some of the most famous kings in Indian history, such as the Vikramaditya of Ujjain, famed as a noble ruler and a mighty warrior. It is also a title that was used by the Indian king Chandragupta II who ruled between 375-413/15 AD.

See also

• MiG-29K
• List of aircraft carriers
• INS Vikrant
• INS Viraat

References

External links

• Defense Industry Daily - INS Vikramaditya Hits Delay, Cost Increases. Covers the program's full history, the ship's aerial complement, and associated events.
• Bharat Rakshak's note on the INS Vikramaditya
• Photos, models & information at Worldwide Aircraft Carriers
• India to get revamped aircraft carrier from Russia (Part 1)
• LATEST PICTURES OF VIKRAMADITYA IN REFIT!!!
• Latest Video of INS VIKRAMADITYA !
• Satellite Photo of INS VIKRAMADITYA in Severodvinsk from the Google Maps

Coordinates: 64°34′34″N 39°48′54″E / 64.57611°N 39.815°E / 64.57611; 39.815