INS Vikramaditya Starts Dock Trials in Severodvinsk

INS Vikramaditya Starts Dock Trials in Severodvinsk: "From March 1 Kiev-class Vikramaditya (ex-Russian Admiral Gorshkov) aircraft carrier started dock trials, reported the Severodvinsk-based Sevmash facility that is retrofitting the ship for the Indian Navy. According to Sevmash’s head of construction Dmitry Strelchenko, the most difficult and important part of the trials will be the testing of the main propulsion system.

In addition, the manufacturer will check the ship’s electronic warfare system, including the Indian-made ones, and the flight deck facilities. “The goal of the dock tests is to prepare the ship’s systems and equipment for the next important stage – factory sea trials that are scheduled for the end of 2011”, said Strelchenko.

INS Vikramaditya at Sevmash (credits Maxim Vorkunkov/Sevmash)

India agreed to take the 44,500-ton aircraft carrier for free in 2004, paying only $800 million for its modernization and another $700 million for 16 MiG-29K ship-based fighters. The refurbishment included removal of all the weaponry from the ship’s foredeck. It was extended and received a ski-jump to allow operation of MiG-29K STOBAR aircraft. Initially Vikramaditya was to be delivered to the Indian Navy in 2008, but the Russians side suggested a price increase due to underestimated cost and volume of the modernization work. The new price was finalized at $2.3 billion in March 2010 while the new delivery date was set for 2012.

Meanwhile the Indian Navy has already received 16 MiG-29K fighters to be based at Vikramaditya and in March 2010 converted into a firm order with the option for another 29 aircraft."