INS Vikramaditya
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Builder: | Chernomorskiy yard, Nikolayev |
| Laid down: | December 1978 (as Admiral Gorshkov) |
| Launched: | |
| Commissioned: | August 2008 |
| Status: | Reconstructing |
| 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 |
| Endurance: | 13500 miles at 18 kt |
| Complement: | |
| Armament: | 8 CADS-N-1 Kashtan CIWS |
| Aircraft carried: | 16 MiG-29K HAL Tejas Sea Harrier 6 Ka-31 'Helix' |
The aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, the former Admiral Gorshkov, is estimated to enter service in the Indian Navy in 2008.
"Vikramāditya" is Sanskrit for "Almighty" [literally Vikramaditya translates as Strength (vikram) of the Sun (aditya)] and was the title of some of the most famous kings of in the Indian history, like the Vikramaditya of Ujjain, who was famed as a noble ruler and a mighty warrior. It is a title for the Indian king Chandragupta II who ruled between 375-413/15 AD. The component "āditya" = "sun" literally means "he who belongs to Aditi".
The Vikramaditya is a Type 1143 Kiev class aircraft carrier built in 1978-1982.
[edit] Purchase
Russia and India came to an agreement over the sale of the ship, the then-Admiral Gorshkov, which they had been haggling over for many years, in 2004, following which the ship is being extensively refitted. It is projected to replace INS Viraat. US$800 million is budgetted for refit and upgrade by the Indian government. Upgrade plans involve stripping all the weaponry from the ship's foredeck, converting her from a hybrid carrier/cruiser to a pure carrier, allowing her to operate the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Sea Harrier aircraft. The deal also includes the purchase of 30 MIG 29K Fulcrum D (Product 9.41) aircraft, six Kamov Ka-31 Helix attack helicopters and reconnaissance anti-submarine helicopters, torpedo tubes, missile systems, and artillery units, costing an additional US$700 million. The ship will be operated in a STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Assisted Recovery) configuration, with a 14 degree ski-jump on the bow and three arrestor wires on the stern.
All reconfiguration work is being completed at Severomorsk.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Bharat Rakshak's note on the INS Vikramaditya
- Photos, models & information at Worldwide Aircraft Carriers
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