Avianosets "Vikramaditya" developed at the test speed of over 29 knots
Aleksander Emelianenko
The best gift to the day of the Navy presented yourself and loved ones and to hand over the command crew of aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya", which takes control trials in the White Sea. On the night of Sunday, July 28, its main power plant has been bred for maximum power - the temperature in all eight boilers to raise the upper limit, and they showed reliable performance. As a result of the giant surface ship displacement of more than 40,000 tons of the course gave 29 , 3 nodes, thus confirming and even exceeding the design specifications.
One of the first learned the news veteran "Sevmash" Edward Leonov - the father of responsible deliverer "Vikramaditya" Igor Leonov.
- We are very worried for my son and all those with him on board the aircraft carrier - admitted Edward Petrovich. - And when the dead of night on July 28 we have the phone rang, my wife and I had no doubts: it is Igor. On the very first words became clear - the kids all turned out! And when you consider that at the time of check measurements aircraft carrier was moving against the wind and against the current, then these 29 , 3 pull all thirty knots, if not more ...
The first information about it has leaked to the Indian media, although the courts of the Russian official confirmation has been received. That, however, is clear: the aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" belongs to the Indian Navy, under their control refitted and tested. Our partners in military-technical cooperation on the rights of the customer decide - what to whom and when to report. This position we accept and treat with respect.
But, at the same time, it does not rejoice overall success of Russian shipbuilders with the family of shipbuilders Leonov, where the aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" bound for three generations?
The head of the dynasty - Edward P. Leonov - more than thirty years, built, tested and handed sailors submarine, and in the early 2000s was, as they say, thrown to the repair and renovation of the cruiser "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier in "Vikramaditya" has become almost Does not the main link between the engineering company and industry.
His son, an engineer, "Sevmash" Igor Leonov, who in June this year was fifty, in the forties was the deliverer responsible for that most difficult of "Sevmash" order. What is otvetsdatchik? On the one hand - the king, God and the military chief in one. And on the other - whipping boy and extreme in all situations when something does not fit, fails or just does not fit within the given timeframe.
Igor E., under whom worked in some periods of up to 3-4 thousand people went through it all. And not afraid to take on board his son Dmitri, who has already obtained the necessary specialty, a wife and son. Igor D. The fourth man in the dynasty Leonov, has not set foot on the deck of an aircraft carrier, but to stand on his feet and had learned with his mother and grandfather will come out of the sea to meet his father and grandfather. If all goes according to plan, test, "Vikramaditya", including the testing of military cooperation with carrier-based aircraft in the Barents Sea, completed in late August.
Recall that now passing the test - a kind of re-examination for the aircraft carrier, its commissioning team and all those who provide the supply of equipment, including the Baltic Shipyard, where boilers are made. In June - August of last year, "Vikramaditya" has already demonstrated themselves and their capabilities in the White and Barents Seas. Serious problems were found then in the boiler units. For their repair and removal of other identified remarks aircraft carrier returned 23 September 2012 at the "Sevmash" In the next nine months, it has been replaced (or rebuilt) fire-resistant protection of the eight marine boilers main power plant. At the same time addressed issues of repair of imported equipment.
Third of July, as scheduled, the aircraft carrier came to the White Sea. Were tested maneuvering and speed characteristics of the ship, circled the complex electronic equipment supporting aircraft. Here, in the White Sea, "Vikramaditya" has taken on board a large portion of the Indian crew and was fueled to go to the Barents Sea, where the trial will take place with the participation of carrier-based aircraft.
As explained in the press service of the Severodvinsk shipyard, the purpose of these tests - to control a ship's systems and equipment. Another important task - the practice of Indian crew. Its main part comes in Severomorsk August 3-4, and immediately moves to the aircraft carrier.
Full testing to be completed by October 15. After that, given a month to eliminate minor comments. Take-over of aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" Indian Navy to be signed on November 15. After that, the ship under its own power, under the Indian crew and a small portion of Russia's acceptance team (led by Igor Leonov - such a request from the Indian side has already arrived) will travel to the place of permanent base on the Indian Ocean.
