Special panel to check readiness of Indian carrier Vikramaditya for flight test

25.06.2010 A special panel consisting of Russian military officials, MiG Corporation experts, and designers of start equipment is about to check whether Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (former Admiral Gorshkov) is ready for flight tests.

"The date of interagency flight tests of deck-based fighter MiG-29K will be determined upon results of the commission's work", reported Interfax referring to a source in Sevmash shipyard which is in charge of the carrier's upgrade.

He reminded that functional 12-ton mock aircraft had been delivered to Sevmash early June.

As was reported by the shipyard's press service, aircraft retaining device would be tested during the forthcoming trials.

"This device retains fighters before full-thrust take-off. After completion this test, the mock aircraft will be used in mooring trials of the carrier's aircraft-related hardware", said the press release.

According to Sergei Novoselov, production director of Sevmash cited by the press service, "test of new retaining device is one of requirements for subsequent payment phase".

As was reported, the upgrade/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 March 2010 the parties reached an agreement to increase cost of repairs and upgrade up to $2.33 bln. It is planned to deliver the carrier by Dec 2012. According to the new contract, India will purchase 29 Russian deck-based fighters MiG-29K for $1.46 bln which will be based on the carrier. This contract supplemented the previous agreement which was signed along with Gorshkov contract providing purchase of 16 MiG-29K.

MiG-29K is a 4++ generation multirole fighter capable to accelerate up to 2,200 kph and perform flights up to 1,500 km. Fighters MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB are designed for providing air defense of ship formations, gaining air dominance, hitting sea-surface and land targets by guided high-precision weapons in any weather conditions day and night.