INS Vikramaditya sea trials begin in May

[Bl[i]tZ]

January 30, 2012: The Indian Navy's Vikramaditya aircraft carrier (erstwhile Admiral Gorshkov) is finally ready to sail out for accelerated sea trials in May this year, though delivery schedules have slipped once again to the displeasure of the customer. The trials will be conducted with a great degree of anticipation considering that the vessel, originally called Baku hasn't been out to sea in roughly 20 years since it was decommissioned from Russian service.

While the Navy was keen to take control of the warship before Navy Day in December this year, sources reveal that February 2013 is the rough new timeframe when Vikramaditya will be in Indian hands -- more than 9 years after Russia agreed to transfer the ship to India following a refit and refurbishment. When Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma visited the Sevmash shipyard in July last year, he had personally asked shipyard director Andrey Dyachkov to hand over the ship before the winter months, but the team conducting mooring trials has already slipped timescales. The Navy's controller of warship production Vice Admiral N.N. Kumar had raised the issue once again in September last year.

Through 2011, the Sevmash trial team has tested power systems, major systems, wiring, electronic equipment, hydraulics and other major systems on board the vessel. It is only after both the Sevmash team and the Indian Navy group stationed in Severodvinsk are satisfied that docked trials are completed satisfactorily that the ship will be cleared for sea trials. As of now, this has not been achieved yet.

Vikramaditya sea trials begin in May - SP's Naval Forces

 

[lepziboy]

oh wow delayed again

 

[Killswitch]

Buying this carrier might end up being a mistake. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Buying this carrier might end up being a mistake. I hope I'm wrong.

If nothing else it will be a great training opportunity for future IN ACC crews to form a trainined and experienced ACC corps who can be used effectively in the future on real IN ACCs. Yes the INS VIRAAT is around but operating supersonic heavy fighters like MIG-29K is going to quite some learning curve for IN.

 

[T90TankGuy]

it is better for the entire vessel to undergo all tests then sail home .