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The gleaming light grey painted flat top with
imposing radar antennae sailed out on 8th June
from the Sevmash Shipyard of the Russian Federation
at Severodvinsk for the Berents Sea.
Initially commissioned in 1987 as Admiral Gorshkov,
the ship did not see much service but after its
sale to India, it has been completely refitted
to Indian specifications with complete new wiring
and steel. The vessel has completed de-perming
and demagnetization of the fuel and ballast tanks
and flashed up its quick firing boilers for harbour
trials.
As Russia ahs delivered the required Mig 29Ks
to India already, ski jump and arrestor landing
trials would be conducted by using Russian aircraft.
The trials include checks of radars and weapons.
The free high speed take offs by fighters will
be from the 14 degree ramp and EMI/EMC trials
will be cleared with all systems switched on,
so that there is no mutual electronic interference
between the systems on board.
Captain Alexander Shevchenko, who was the Captain
of Russia’s only 55,000 ton aircraft carrier Kuzenetsov,
is supervising the critical sea trials, whilst
Captain Igor Raibko, who also served as Kuzenetsov’s
deputy commander, is the nominated Commanding
Officer for the sea trials.
He will hand over INS Vikramaditya to Captain
Suraj Berry of the Indian Navy on Dec 4 this year,
a date set by the two governments for the vessel’s
delivery after a substantial delay.
Capt Berry is a gunnery specialist, who has been
specially selected for this prestigious command
with MIG- 29K fighters on board which will alter
the balance of power in the Indian Ocean when
escorted by the Akula class INS Chakra and directed
by Boeing P8-I maritime reconnaissance aircraft
with Harpoon missiles and air direction capabilities,
due also, to arrive from 2013 onwards.
The advanced crew of the INS Vikramaditya along
with Capt Berry and other officers have been in
Russia for training.
Special facilities have been set up in the town
of Pushkin on the river Neva South of St Petersburg,
called the ‘Indian Village’, where the crew of
the Krivacks were also trained.
No details of the armament except for possible
AK-630 AA guns has been made public but as on
the INS Viraat, the Israeli Barak AA system could
be retrofitted on Vikramaditya in India. In due
course the solid fuel ‘fire and forget’ BrahMos
angled launchers could also be an option for fitment.
Naval Dockyards in India have become adept at
this installation, thanks to their experience
with the Rajput class and Kolkatta class ships.
Arrangements have been made in India for guarantee
support with agencies of the Russian OEMs like
Krasny Marine and Rosboronservice as has been
the practice and market information states that
Dynatron Ltd. is also being roped in to support
the multitude of equipment on board supplied by
Russian, Indian, Finnish, and other companies.
The CCS-MKII communications and Link II/X command
and control systems are from Bharat Electronics
Ltd (BEL), with allied EW suites.
Vladimir ‘Vovick’ Karnozov and Leonov, the construction
managers of Project 11430 aircraft carrier at
Sevmash worked over time for the sea trials, and
as the first of the class, these will be extensive
including heeling trials when the ship will be
listed to its designed limits and all equipment
made to function at optimal paces. Two critical
issues i.e. startup of refrigerating machines
and fixture of search-and-rescue equipment will
be completed in the final stages.
The Indian Navy crew had embarked the Vikramaditya
daily to get accustomed with the ship and familiarise
themselves with the installed systems before the
sea trials.
The training programme for the officers and ship’s
company has been extensive and detailed for 632
out of the total 1400 on board. The key training
modules were kept at 27 for the Commanding Officer
and air element officers, 23 for engineering and
15 for electrical officers, and 12 for NBCD specialists.
The Indian Navy has a vast experience of commissioning
ships in Russia and recently commissioned and
inducted the INS Chakra and the first project
11356 Krivack INS Teg built at the Yantar shipyard
which sailed from Kaliningrad on 6th May after
completing all trials including BrahMos firings
and has joined the Indian naval fleet. INS Tarash
is undergoing trials.
INS Vikramaditya will replace INS Viraat, the
Indian Navy’s sole carrier at present.
The ship will be at INS Kadamba, the Navy’s new
Project Seabird at Karwar where the phase 1 has
been completed and sanction for Phase II with
an air station, additional jetties and a dry dock
for INS Vikramaditya is expected soon.
INS Vikramaditya will also have a complement
of five Ka-31 AEW helicopters. It has been fitted
with the massive 3D Salyut JSC Podberezovik ET2
radar antenna for early air and surface warning
and direction of aircraft, which will be an asset
to the fleet for BrahMos targeting with the KA-31AEWs.
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