INS Vikramaditya: Operationalised
INS Vikramaditya has recently been operationalised after an exhaustive refit lasting nearly two and a half years.
- INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier which entered into service with the Indian Navy in 2013.
- It has been renamed in honour of Vikramaditya, a legendary emperor of Ujjain, India.
- The carrier served with the Soviet Navy and later with the Russian Navy (as Admiral Gorshkov) before being decommissioned in 1996.
- It was later bought by India in 2004 for $2.33bn.
- It was commissioned in 2013 after refurbishing.
- It has an overall length of about 284 meters and a maximum beam of about 60 meters.
- The ship has a total of 22 decks. It can carry more than 1,600 personnel, including crew.
- It has a maximum speed of more than 30 knots and can achieve a maximum range of 7,000nmi.
- It can endure up to 45 days at sea.
- It is powered by 08 new-generation steam boilers.
- The ship has the ability to carry over 30 aircraft comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters.
- The aircraft carrier can be armed with a wide range of weapons, including anti-ship missiles, beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, guided bombs, and rockets.
- The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art launch and recovery systems along with aids to enable smooth and efficient operation of ship-borne aircraft.
