Scheduled on May 25, first sortie of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya build by Russia for Indian Navy may not be held, a source in defense industry told Central Navy Portal.
Dockside repair and modernization of Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya under Project 11430 is coming to its end. In accordance with schedule agreed upon with the client, on May 25 the ship is supposed to unberth the Sevmash shipyard's outfitting quay for the first time and take the sea for trials. Currently, the shipwrights are working day and night preparing the ship in order to start sea trials in time.
Central Navy Portal found out that the date of the carrier's first sea-taking may be postponed due to staff changes in Russian Navy command, the need for replacements in governmental commission and some other reasons. According to a source in defense industry, "a time delay is possible, about one week". Therefore, approved and repeatedly named date of May 25 may be postponed for indefinite period.