INS Vikramaditya berlayar untuk uji akhir | Asia-Pacific Defense Forum
Indian aircraft carrier made by Russia, INS Vikramaditya, which is equipped with a cost of over U.S. $ 2.35 billion and has experienced several delays and additional costs, sailed for delivery and final acceptance testing.
Kiev class aircraft carrier weighs 44 570 tonnes, formerly known as Admiral Gorshkov, and in 2004 was renamed INS Vikramaditya [which means "brave sun"], is a steam-powered ships. The ship left the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, northern Russia, on July 3 to be tested in the White and Barents Sea.
"It would be tested for two months and if the ship meets all the parameters that will lead to acceptance of surrender of the Indian side," said Navy [AL] India said in a statement. The test will cover the entire operation of the vessel, propulsion, and engine function under stress conditions. Testing was also included in the landing and taking off from the deck of the ship for the MiG-29K fighter aircraft . Approximately 1,000 parameters will be checked before the ship was handed over to India.
Igor Sevastyanov, deputy head of Russia's state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, said the ship was scheduled to be delivered in the fall.
Sevastyanov, speaking on the sidelines of the International Maritime Defence Exhibition [International Maritime Defense Show or IDMS-2013] in St. Petersburg on July 3, said: "Everything is fine. The ship will be handed over [to India] this fall: we must not be late again. "
Boiler malfunction in sea trials in 2012
A series of sea trials at the end of this is needed after three of the eight boilers [boiler] ship malfunction during testing earlier last year. The trial was then stopped, delaying the delivery of the warship.
The delay means that the projected date of delivery of the vessel to New Delhi December 4, 2012 can not be met. Delivery date has been pushed back several times since it was first established in 2008. After the problems last year, it was raised at the annual summit of the 13 India-Russia between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on December 24, 2012.
Such trials that failed last year, this time the ship will bring a mixture of Russian-Indian crew. Indian sailors learn how to operate the ship.
The aircraft carrier will be India's second aircraft carrier after INS Viraat. Ship Viraat bought from Britain in the 1980s and originally named HMS Hermes. Viraat carrying Sea Harriers, jet aircraft take off and land vertically or short distances [vertical or short take-off and landing or VSTOL].
Vikramaditya boiler insulation system does not function properly when sea trials last year, especially when the ship is in a top speed of around 30 knots. Russia has told India that penyekatannya system has been replaced.
Vessel specifications
The ship was built as an aircraft carrier Soviet Project 1143.4 class and named Baku, as the capital of Azerbaijan. Launched in 1982, the ship was then commissioned in the Soviet Navy in 1987. Boiler room explosion in 1994 made the ship anchored for a year. In 1995, the ship was returned to duty shortly before then withdrawn and put up for sale in 1996.
The ship previously brought takeoff and vertical landing [vertical take-off and landing or VTOL] Yakovlev Yak-38. Re-equipment program that dikontr [short take-off but assisted recovery or STOBAR] using a cable anchoring. This paved the way for the conversion of the MiG-29K is more resilient to operate in the upper deck. This ship has a "ski jump" on the upper deck, while the tail hook used for securing cables and landing aid. About 18 MiG-29K can be placed on board in addition to 10 helicopters, including the Kamov-28 helicopter with anti-submarine warfare capabilities [anti-submarine warfare or ASW] and helicopters Kamov-31 airborne early warning [or AEW airborne early warning].
The warship has a speed limit of 32 knots and cruising capability as far as 25,000 kilometers [13,500 nautical miles] at a cruising speed of 18 knots. Ship length 283 meters [928 feet] with a width of 51.1 meters [167 feet]. This aircraft carrier is driven by a steam turbine that generates four pivots 140,000 horsepower. The ship will have a crew of 1,400.
India and Russia signed a contract for the warship in January 2004 for U.S. $ 974 million with delivery scheduled in 2008. Because India wants major changes were made on the ship, following the price negotiations before then in March 2010 agreed on a final price of $ 2.35 billion U.S..
Issues surrounding the ship sparked a political fire
Following the failure of the trial last year, in October 2012, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov visited India for the 12th annual meeting of the intergovernmental commission for the India-Russian military technical cooperation. At the meeting, discussed Vikramaditya delivery delays. Serdyukov said to the media, "We have given a revised schedule. Sea testing will continue in April next year. We are confident handing over [the ship] will be conducted in the fourth quarter of 2013. "
In the same media interaction, Indian Defense Minister AK Antony insisted: "The delivery of Gorshkov early is important for the Government and the Indian Navy. We have expressed our serious concern. "
Joint statement between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 24 December 2012 said: "The two sides discussed measures needed to ensure the speedy delivery of the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya ... to India. Russian parties ensure that the necessary measures will be taken in this regard. "
India puts the fighter MiG-29K on board
Although New Delhi is still awaiting the arrival of a warship, the government has commissioned the first eskadron MiG-29K fighter aircraft made in Russia. On May 11, the first unit that consists of 16 aircraft, was unveiled at a brief ceremony at the Navy base land in Goa, the west coast of India. MiG-29K aircraft is not only India's first supersonic AL, but also widely expected to increase the influence of India.
The twin-engined fighter will be placed on the ship Vikramaditya, but for now it is still inside the base in Goa until the carrier arrives.
