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Speaking at the event, Antony said INS Vikramaditya
would significantly enhance the reach and capability
of the Indian Navy. He said, the country has a
rich maritime history and the Indian Ocean has
guided our fate over the centuries.
“India’s economic development is dependent
on the seas and safeguarding the nation’s
maritime interests is central to our national
policy. Aircraft carriers have been part of the
Indian Navy’s force structure since our independence
and have effectively served the country over the
past five decades or so. The induction of ‘Vikramaditya’
with its integral MiG-29K fighters and Kamov-31
helicopters, not only reinforces this central
policy, but also adds a new dimension to our Navy’s
operational capabilities. The meaning of ‘Vikramaditya’,
which literally translates into “Strong as
the Sun” is complemented by the Ship’s
motto -”Strike Far, Strike Sure”, he
said.
Reflecting the mood at the ceremony, Antony
said, ‘the event realizes the vision of capability-based
transformation of the Indian Navy that was conceived
more than a decade ago’. Calling it a Red
Letter Day in the history of India- Russia cooperation,
Antony said this relationship remains a matter
of the highest priority for both nations for our
mutual benefit and as a factor of global peace
and stability.
“The successful culmination of Project
11430 truly symbolises the time-tested Special
and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our
two great nations. The Project has propelled the
strategic partnership between our nations to a
new level. The relationship between our two countries
based on mutual trust and belief has withstood
the test of time and the result is for the entire
world to see in the form of ‘Vikramaditya’.
As the ship sails into its home waters in the
Indian Ocean Region, INS ‘Vikramaditya’
will be a befitting tribute to our long-standing
relationship”, he said.
Describing the Project 11430 as a unique one,
Antony said, it was a challenging task for both
the Russian and the Indian sides and congratulated
the entire team for converting the ‘Dream
Project’ into a reality. “The transformation
of INS ‘Vikramaditya’ is an engineering
marvel, which has tested the professionalism,
capability and perseverance of the Indian Navy
and the Russian industry, especially the Sevmash
Shipyard”, he said and expressed confidence
that all possible support would be extended by
Russia to ensure that the ship serves India effectively
and efficiently for the duration of its expected
operational life cycle.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief of Naval
Staff Admiral DK Joshi said the INS Vikramaditya
will bridge the time-gap that may come up between
the INS Viraat and the Indigenously built aircraft
carrier Vikrant. It will also help achieving our
medium term goal of operating two aircraft carriers.
A large number of dignitaries including the
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin
and Defence Minister Shoigu, the Chief of Naval
Staff Admiral DK Joshi, the Indian Ambassador
to Russia Ajay Malhotra, the Defence Secretary
RK Mathur, the DG Acquisition SB Agnihotri were
present on the occasion. Rogozin said INS Vikramaditya
symbolises the close friendship between India
and Russia and expressed confidence that it will
grow in the coming years.
ABOUT INS VIKRAMADITYA
INS Vikramaditya, the floating airfield has
an overall length of about 284 meters and a maximum
beam of about 60 meters, stretching as much as
three football fields put together. Standing about
20 storeys tall from keel to the highest point,
the sheer sight of this 44,500 tonne mega structure
of steel is awe inspiring. The ship has a total
of 22 decks.
With over 1,600 personnel on board, INS Vikramaditya
is literally a ‘Floating City’. With
a capacity of over 8,000 tonnes of LSHSD, she
is capable of operations up to a range of over
7,000 nautical miles or 13000 kms.
To enable this 44,500 tonnes floating steel
city to cut through the choppy seas with speeds
of up to 30 knots, she is powered by 08 new generation
steam boilers generating a total output power
of 180,000 SHP. These boilers power four enormous
propellers, each greater in diameter than twice
the height of an average male. Such a four propeller
- four shaft configuration is another first in
the Indian Navy. The power generation capacity
onboard is about 18 megawatts enough to cater
to the lighting requirement of a mini city. An
extensive revamp of sensors including fitment
of Long range Air Surveillance Radars, Advanced
Electronic Warfare Suite makes the ship capable
of maintaining a surveillance bubble of over 500
kms around the ship.
The ship has the ability to carry over 30 aircraft
comprising an assortment of MiG-29K/Sea Harrier,
Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak
helicopters. The MiG-29K swing role fighter is
the main offensive platform and provides a quantum
jump for the Indian Navy’s maritime strike
capability. These fourth generation air superiority
fighters provide a significant fillip for the
Indian Navy with a range of over 700 nm and an
array of weapons including anti-ship missiles,
Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missiles, guided
bombs and rockets.
The ship is equipped with state of the art launch
and recovery systems along with aids to enable
smooth and efficient operation of ship borne aircraft.
Major systems include the LUNA Landing system
for MiGs, DAPS Landing system for Sea Harriers
and Flight deck lighting systems.
The heart of the operational network that infuses
life into the combat systems onboard the ship
is the Computer aided Action Information Organisation
(CAIO) system, LESORUB-E, with the capability
to gather data from ship’s sensors and data
links and to process, collate and assemble comprehensive
tactical pictures. This state of the art system
has been specifically designed keeping in mind
the essential requirement on the carrier for fighter
control and direction.
One of the most prominent equipment fitted on
the super structure is the Resistor-E radar complex.
Resistor-E is the automated system designed for
providing air traffic control, approach/landing
and short range navigation for ship borne aircraft.
This complex along with its various sub-systems
provides navigation and flight data to ship borne
aircraft operating at extended ranges from the
mother ship. The precision approach guidance system
aids the fighters on approach to be directed down
to a distance of 30 meters short of flight deck.
INS Vikramaditya also boasts of a very modern
communication complex, CCS MK II, to meet her
external communication requirement. Installation
of Link II tactical data system allows her to
be fully integrated with the Indian Navy’s
network centric operations.
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