Aircraft carrier being upgraded for India is 70% completed

21.01.2010
Severodvinsk shipbuilders engaged in outfitting of Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (former Admiral Gorshkov) have completely prepared the ship for electrical installation works, reports Interfax citing Igor Leonov who is in charge of delivery.

"Generally, the carrier is 70% completed", said I. Leonov.

"In particular, almost all large-sized equipment was loaded on board including the ship's "heart" – boilers and main turbogear assembly", said the expert having added that electrical equipment had being loaded at that time.

Besides, about 330 km of cable were pulled, interior hull works have been finished as well as repair of hull structures. "Hull saturation is about to be completed, too", added Mr. Leonov.

Assembling of power and general purpose systems will be the next phase of works; all sections of the ship are prepared for that, said the interviewee. Besides, "a great attention is given to all-ship venting system installation due to its huge size", he added.

"In sum, the works are performed uninterruptedly; they were in progress even during New Year holidays", underlined I. Leonov. He assured that, according to the plan, the carrier would start sea trials as soon as late 2011.

The upgrade and delivery contract of Admiral Gorshkov to Indian Navy was signed in 2004; eight years after the ship had been decommissioned from Russian Navy. The tied contract provided $974 mln for modernization and $530 mln for delivery of 16 deck-based fighters MiG-29K and ASW helicopters Ka-31 and Ka-27.

The ship was supposed to be delivered late 2008. However, having paid about $458 mln, India suspended further contract payments since Jan 2007. In Nov 2007 Russian party complained about underestimating of works. After visit of Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev to India in Dec 2008, Indian government's security committee approved starting negotiations on contract cost review.

According to recent agreements, the carrier is to be commissioned into Indian Navy in 2012.

Totally, India intends to have three aircraft carriers by 2017; except for Kiev-class carrier Admiral Gorshkov (Vikramaditya), Delhi plans to build two carriers IAC at domestic shipyards. By the way, the second IAC 2 will have increased displacement (up to 50,000 tonnes) and CATOBAR system (Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery). Currently, only the U.S., France and Brazil possess catapult-type aircraft carriers.

At present, only the U.S., Russia and Great Britain have aircraft carriers with displacement exceeding 40,000 tonnes.

Source: Interfax-AVN, photo: aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (Lt P.J. Azzolina/U.S. Navy)