INS Vikramaditya Achieves Top Speed, To Undergo Aviation Trials

The aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya formely knows as the Admiral Gorshkov recently underwent sea trails and achieved a top speed of over 30 knots in Russia.

Following the extensive sea trails which is expected to be completed by September end, the long-delayed 44,500 tonne aircraft carrier renamed INS Vikramaditya is to be inducted in to the Indian Navy by the end of this year.

The warship will undergo aviation trials in the White Sea including the landing and take-off of fighter aircraft from its runway, a Russian Navy official said.

The Russian officials last year informed India that it would hand over the warship to the Indian Navy by the end of 2013, due to cost and time overruns delaying the previous delivery date.

There will be parameter checks during the trials before the force gives its approval for the warship to be ready for induction, officials added.

India had signed the contract for the warship in 2004 for $934 million but the Russian side kept increasing the price of the warship and ultimately, it was finalised at $2.33 billion.

India has signed contracts with Russia for procuring 45 MiG-29 naval combat aircraft for being deployed on the aircraft carrier and started taking deliveries of the planes much before the due date of the arrival of the warship.

The aircraft carrier would be based by the Navy off the coast of Karwar in Karnataka and it has already started preparing the base for stationing the ship.