10:30 08/06/2012 | SEVERODVINSK, June 8 (RIA Novosti)
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ru_1k8SLOeI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Indian Navy's Russian-built aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) began sea trials
early on Friday morning in the White Sea - four years after it was originally due to take to sea again. The ship was
refitted at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia. It was originally scheduled to begin sea trials, which will last
120 days, on May 25.
A mixed Russian-Indian crew is on board the vessel, with the Indian sailors learning how to operate the vessel.
After initial sea trials in the White Sea the ship will sail to the Barents Sea for exercises with military aircraft.
India and Russia signed a $947 million dollar deal in 2005 for the purchase of the carrier, but delivery has already
been delayed twice, pushing up the cost of refurbishing the carrier to $2.3 billion.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=173913548.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/173913548.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The Vikramaditya was originally built as the Soviet Project 1143.4 class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The ship
was laid down in 1978 at the Nikolayev South shipyard in Ukraine, launched in 1982, and commissioned with the
Soviet Navy in 1987. The ship has a displacement of 45,000 tons, a maximum speed of 32 knots and an endurance
of 13,500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at a cruising speed of 18 knots.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=IAC-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/IAC-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
India’s first indigenous carrier under Project 71. Like the Vikramaditya, it will have a 14.5 degree ski jump and three arrestor wires in what
is known as a STOBAR configuration. It will have an embarked air wing of 30 fighters and helicopters.
India has already started taking delivery of MiG-29K naval fighter aircraft for the Vikramaditya, as they were ready
before the refit was completed. The MiG-29Ks will operate in STOBAR (short take-off but assisted recovery via
arresting wires) mode. The MiG-29K was reportedly selected over the larger and more-capable Su-33 naval fighter
because India also hopes to operate them from its smaller, indigenous “Project-71 Air Defense Ship” carriers
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ru_1k8SLOeI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Indian Navy's Russian-built aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) began sea trials
early on Friday morning in the White Sea - four years after it was originally due to take to sea again. The ship was
refitted at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia. It was originally scheduled to begin sea trials, which will last
120 days, on May 25.
A mixed Russian-Indian crew is on board the vessel, with the Indian sailors learning how to operate the vessel.
After initial sea trials in the White Sea the ship will sail to the Barents Sea for exercises with military aircraft.
India and Russia signed a $947 million dollar deal in 2005 for the purchase of the carrier, but delivery has already
been delayed twice, pushing up the cost of refurbishing the carrier to $2.3 billion.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=173913548.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/173913548.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The Vikramaditya was originally built as the Soviet Project 1143.4 class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The ship
was laid down in 1978 at the Nikolayev South shipyard in Ukraine, launched in 1982, and commissioned with the
Soviet Navy in 1987. The ship has a displacement of 45,000 tons, a maximum speed of 32 knots and an endurance
of 13,500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at a cruising speed of 18 knots.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=IAC-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/IAC-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
India’s first indigenous carrier under Project 71. Like the Vikramaditya, it will have a 14.5 degree ski jump and three arrestor wires in what
is known as a STOBAR configuration. It will have an embarked air wing of 30 fighters and helicopters.
India has already started taking delivery of MiG-29K naval fighter aircraft for the Vikramaditya, as they were ready
before the refit was completed. The MiG-29Ks will operate in STOBAR (short take-off but assisted recovery via
arresting wires) mode. The MiG-29K was reportedly selected over the larger and more-capable Su-33 naval fighter
because India also hopes to operate them from its smaller, indigenous “Project-71 Air Defense Ship” carriers
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