Indian Vikramaditya Aircraft Carrier Launched and in Sea Trials

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS ^ | 8 June 2012 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

The Russian refit of their former Gorshkov VSTOL carrier into the STOBAR Indian Aircraft Carrier Virkamaditya is complete and the vessel has been launched for sea trials.

INS VIKRAMADITYA LAUNCHED FOR SEA TRIALS

Originally the Indian Navy purchased a full wing of new Mig-29K aircraft from Riussia for 1.5 billion (USD) which included the refitting of this 1980s carrier. However cost overruns ensued and ultimately after months of work stoppage, the Russians and Indians agreed to a complete cost for the carrier and the aircraft for 2.8 billion (USD), still a low price.

The Virkamaditya is now launched and in trials and is scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy for commissioning in December 2012. the Indian Navy began taking delivery of and training with their Mig-29K aircraft a year ago.

The Indians are also building two indegenous carriers, the Vikrant Class, the first of which will be launched in 2013.

For more info, seeWorld-wide Aircraft Carriers - Vikramaditya Page

[Jeff Head]

The naval arms race in Asia continues. China, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the US are all in the act.

[FreeAtlanta]

Those ships with the swoop on the front have always looked queer to me.

[Jeff Head]

Most folks are not aware of the huge naval arms buildup going on in Asia. But it is and this is the latest launch of another aircraft carrier in the region.

[FreeAtlanta]

Does Australia have aircraft carriers? If any country/continent should have one, I would think they should.

[KingLudd]

INS What?

[Jeff Head]

Vikramaditya...an Indian name. He was a legendary emperor of India in antiquity and many rulers after him assumed his name...like Pharoh to the Egyptians.

[henkster]

There is a naval arms build up in the region, but as far as the aircraft carriers go, it looks like the other countries “building” them are really just re-fitting the old Soviet ships. They are a long way from being “carrier navies” in the way the USN is.

Also, these nations will not all be against the United States, but are building against each other for the most part. We are still the biggest and best navy in the world, and it will take a while for anyone or any combination to challenge us. For the foreseeable future, we hold the naval balance of power.

[Jeff Head]

Australia is building two Canberra Class multi-role ships which can act as carriers or amphibious assault.

At the World-wide Aircraft Carrier site, there's a page for them. The Canberra Class.

[Jeff Head]

That;’s what navies who either haven’t developed, or can’t afford catapaults use to help get their aircraft in the air. Not a bad solution all considered.

[Jeff Head]

Well, the Indians and the Chinese are also building indegenous designs that will both be out in the next 1-3 years. The Indians intend a total of three large carriers...40-45,000 ton range. The chinese will probably end up with more, 3-5 in the 65,000 ton range.

Both nations are also building very modern and healthy strong escort vessels that mimick the AEGIS vessels we have.

See: THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA

[hosepipe]

India needs an aircraft carrier like they need a bullet proof turban...

A few submarines might be wise though..

[C19fan]

The Chinese are also renovating another Soviet era carrier of the same class. Maybe the two ships can have a ski jumping competition.

[M Kehoe]

Good afternoon my FRiend. I trust you are doing well.

What does the Indian navy plan to protect that carrier with?

5.56mm

[Sudetenland]

Those ships with the swoop on" the front have always looked queer to me."

Well . . . it was a British Navy invention. :)

[brivette]

copied from the brits I believe.

[Tenacious 1]

That Austrailian “target” looks like it might capsize in a strong wind.

It seems functional and practical in it’s multirole use. But it is ugly and seems to stick out of the water a bit. Do they have a keel on it?

[moonshot925]

This is the Soviet Kiev class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. It was sold to India in January 2004.

[Little Ray]

IIRC, they have leased one or more nuke subs and are gathering experience for building operating nuclear submarines.

[Jeff Head]

Here's a depcition I put together of the new Carrier with one of India's Delhi Class destroyers escorting her.

Their new Kohlkata destroyers which they are building 7-9 of are much more modern with VLS, AESA Radar and AEGIS-like battle management.

They have launched three of those lareday and the first will be commissioned this year.

[Jeff Head]

Actually, the Chinese aircraft carrier is a later generation. It was the former Varyag that was about 80% complete when the Soviet Union collapsed and was never complete. it is the sister ship to the Kuznetsov and is a bigger and more capable STOBAR carrier than this one.

The Indian carrier is more than a refit. it is an upgrade. The chinese carrier is an actual refit.

You can take a look at both at the following two links:

The Chinese Varyag
http://www.jeffhead.com/worldwideaircraftcarriers/varyag.htm

The Indian Virkamaditya
http://www.jeffhead.com/worldwideaircraftcarriers/vikram.htm

The Indian Carrier was originally a VSTOL carrier where the entire front end was devoted to offensive weapons systesm. Those have been removed and a ski jump deck added in their place to make it a STOBAR carrier that will use Mig-29K aircraft (up to about 20-24 of them)

The Chinese carrier was a large STOBAR carrier from the get go, and she has been refitted with chinese sensors, weapons systems. and new propulsion and will fly the J-15 Strike Fighter which are larger, longer range, and carry more ordinance than the Mig-29K, and which is a Chinese modernization of the Russian SU-33 (up to 30 of them)