INS Vikramaditya (Sanskrit: Vikramāditya, Brave as the Sun)[note 1] is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier and the flagship of the Indian Navy. The carrier entered into service in 2013.[20]

Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya
India
NameINS Vikramaditya
NamesakeVikramāditya
OperatorIndian Navy
Ordered20 January 2004
BuilderBlack Sea Shipyard, USSR, and Sevmash, Russia
Cost$2.35 billion (refurbishment)[1] $10-11 billion (including all aircraft and systems)[2]
Launched4 December 2008
Completed19 April 2012
Commissioned16 November 2013[3]
In service14 June 2014
HomeportINS Kadamba, Karwar
Identification
MottoStrike Far, Strike Sure[5]
Statusactive
History
Soviet Union → Russia
NameAdmiral Gorshkov
NamesakeSergey Gorshkov
BuilderChernomorskiy Yard, Nikolayev
Laid down17 February 1978[6]
Launched1 April 1982[6]
Commissioned11 December 1987[6]
Decommissioned1996
FateSold to the Indian Navy on 20 January 2004
General characteristics
Class and typeModified Kiev-class aircraft carrier
TypeAircraft carrier
Displacement45,400 tons of loaded displacement[7][8]
Length284 metres (932 ft) (overall)[9][10]
Beam61 metres (200 ft)[11]
Height60.0 metres (196.9 ft) [11]
Draught10.2 metres (33 ft)
Decks22[12]
Installed power6 turbo alternators and 6 diesel alternators which generate 18 MWe[12]
Propulsion8 turbo-pressurised boilers, 4 shafts, 4 geared steam turbines, generating 180,000 horsepower (134,226 kW)[12][13]
Speed+30 knots (56 km/h)[13]
Range13,500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)[14]
Endurance45 days[12]
Complement110 officers and 1500 sailors[13]
Sensors and
processing systems
Long-range Air Surveillance Radars, LESORUB-E, Resistor-E radar complex, CCS MK II communication complex and Link II tactical data system[12]
Armament
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilities
  • 14-degree ski-jump
  • Three 30 m wide arrester gears and three restraining gears.[12]

Originally built as Baku and commissioned in 1987, the carrier served with the Soviet Navy and later with the Russian Navy (as Admiral Gorshkov) before being decommissioned in 1996.[21][22][23] After years of negotiations, the carrier was purchased by India on 20 January 2004.[1] The transformed ship completed her sea trials in July 2013[24] and first STOBAR aviation trials in September 2013.[25]

She was commissioned on 16 November 2013 at a ceremony held at Severodvinsk, Russia.[26] On 14 June 2014, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, formally inducted INS Vikramaditya into the Indian Navy and dedicated her to the nation.[27][28]

History

edit

The deal

edit

Baku entered service in 1987, renamed Admiral Gorshkov in 1991, but was deactivated in 1996 because she was too expensive to operate on a post-Cold War budget. This attracted the attention of India, which was looking for a way to expand its carrier aviation capabilities.[29] On 20 January 2004, after years of negotiations, Russia and India signed a deal for the sale of the ship. The ship would be free, while India would pay US$800 million for the upgrade and refit of the vessel and an additional US$1 billion for the aircraft and weapons systems. The navy looked at equipping the carrier with the E-2C Hawkeye, but decided not to.[30] In 2009, Northrop Grumman offered the advanced E-2D Hawkeye to the Indian Navy.[31]

The deal also included the purchase of 12 single-seat Mikoyan MiG-29K "Fulcrum-D" (Product 9.41) and four dual-seat MiG-29KUB aircraft (with an option for 14 more aircraft) at US$1 billion, six Kamov Ka-31 "Helix" reconnaissance and antisubmarine helicopters, torpedo tubes, missile systems, and artillery units. Facilities and procedures for training pilots and technical staff, delivery of simulators, spare parts, and establishment maintenance on Indian Navy facilities were also part of the contract.

The upgrade involved stripping all the weaponry and missile launcher tubes from the ship's foredeck to make way for a "short take-off but arrested recovery" (STOBAR) configuration,[32] converting the Gorshkov from a hybrid carrier/cruiser to a pure carrier.

 
Vikramaditya (left) alongside the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in the port of Severomorsk in 2012

The announced delivery date for INS Vikramaditya was August 2008, allowing the carrier to enter service just as the Indian Navy's only light carrier INS Viraat retired. While Viraat's retirement had been pushed out to 2010–2012,[33] she underwent a final refit, enabling her to serve through 2016.[34]

The delay issues were compounded by ongoing cost overruns, leading to high-level diplomatic exchanges. India finally agreed to pay an additional US$1.2 billion for the project, doubling the original cost.[35] However, ongoing difficulty with Vikramaditya's delivery schedule pushed the expected delivery to 2013. Also, the indigenous Vikrant-class aircraft carrier was delayed by at least a year and was expected to be commissioned in 2013 from the proposed 2012.[36]

In July 2008, Russia reportedly needed to increase the price by about US$2 billion, blaming unexpected cost overruns on the deteriorated condition of the ship and citing a "market price" for a new midsized carrier of US$3–4 bn.[citation needed] India had paid US$400 million as of November 2008. However, Russia threatened to cancel the deal entirely if India did not pay the increased amount.[37] In December 2008, government sources in India stated that the Cabinet Committee on Security had finally decided in favour of purchasing Admiral Gorshkov as the best option available.[38] The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) criticised the fact that Vikramaditya would be a second-hand warship with a limited lifespan, which would be 60% costlier than a new one. Also, a risk existed of further delay in its delivery.[39] The Indian Navy Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, defended the price for the warship, saying, "I can't comment on the CAG. But you all are defence analysts, can you get me an aircraft carrier for less than US$2 billion? If you can, I am going to sign a cheque right now".

The statement from the Chief of Naval Staff at that time indicated that the final deal could be over US$2 billion. When asked about CAG's finding that the navy had not done its risk analysis before going in for the ship, he was quoted as saying, "I can ensure you that there is no such thing. There is no question, we have been looking at the ship since the late '90s."[40]

On 7 December 2009, Russian sources indicated that final terms had been agreed on, but no delivery date was set.[41] On 8 December 2009, India and Russia were reported to have ended the stalemate over Admiral Gorshkov price deal by agreeing on a price of US$2.2 billion. Moscow asked for US$2.9 billion for the aircraft carrier, nearly three times that was originally agreed between the two sides in 2004. New Delhi, though, wanted the price to be scaled back to US$2.1 billion.[42][43] Both governments finalised the price of Admiral Gorshkov at US$2.35 billion on 10 March, a day ahead of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to India.[1]

In April 2010, a scandal over the project emerged when it was announced that a senior Indian Navy officer had probably been blackmailed to influence the negotiations over the cost of Admiral Gorshkov to India.[44] Commodore Sukhjinder Singh had been a senior figure supervising the refit of the carrier, working as the principal director for the project. "Photographs showing him in intimate situations with women" allegedly taken during his 3-year overseas service in Russia were mailed to Navy headquarters in a CD. Several photos were later leaked to the Indian press. He was discharged from service due to this incident.[45]

Remodeling

edit
 
Vikramaditya during sea trials following her conversion

The hull work was completed by 2008,[46] and Vikramaditya was launched on 4 December 2008.[47] Around 99% of the structural work and almost 50% of the cabling work had been completed by June 2010. Nearly all of the large equipment, including engines and diesel generators, was installed.[48] A naval MiG-29K prototype aircraft was used to test the deck systems of Vikramaditya in 2010.[49]

All reconfiguration work was completed at Severodvinsk, Russia, but it was delayed by three years due to an underestimation of the amount of cabling needed.[50] An expert-level discussion on technical and financial matters was held between India and Russia to resolve the issues.[51] The MiG-29K entered operational service with India in February 2010. A compromise was finalised, and India was to pay an extra undisclosed amount. Russia was to install new systems instead of repairing the old ones.[52]

On 1 June 2010, The Times of India reported a naval officer saying: "With India earlier this year agreeing to the revised refit cost of $2.33 billion for Gorshkov after three years of bitter wrangling since the earlier agreement signed in January 2004 had earmarked only $974 million for it, Russia has appointed a high-level apex committee to oversee the work on the carrier". The ship was to go for harbour trials by early 2011 to ensure she could be handed over to India by around December 2012.[48][53] Dock trials began on 1 March 2011. These trials focused on the main power generation units and the radio-electronic armament systems, manufactured in India.[54][55] Indian Navy personnel began training on Vikramaditya in April 2011.[56] On 19 April 2012, it was announced that all internal systems were functioning, and the ship was entirely self-contained. The ship's magnetic field and centre of gravity were measured before sea trials began.[57]

New design

edit
 
The conversion of the ship saw all the armament removed from the foredeck, including the P-500 Bazalt cruise missile launchers and the four sets of 3K95 Kinzhal surface-to-air missile launchers, to make way for a 14.3° bow ski jump.

As completed, Vikramaditya has a larger full load displacement than when the ship was originally launched in 1982 as Baku; 1,750 out of 2,500 compartments of the vessel were refabricated, and extensive recabling was done to support new radars and sensors. The elevators were upgraded, and two restraining stands were fitted, allowing combat aircraft to reach full power before making a ski jump-assisted short take-off. Three arresting gears were fitted on the aft of the angled deck, and navigation and carrier-landing aids were added to support fixed-wing "short take-off but arrested recovery" (STOBAR) operations.[12][58][59]

Structural modifications

edit
Comparison of the handling arrangements of Vikramaditya (left) and the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov (right). Admiral Kuznetsov has positions for launching 3 aircraft at once, while Vikramaditya only has launch positions for 2.

The major modifications were to allow Admiral Gorshkov to operate as a STOBAR aircraft carrier in Indian service, as opposed to the STOVL configuration the ship was built as. This involved removal of all the armament, including the P-500 Bazalt cruise missile launchers and the four Antey Kinzhal surface-to-air missile bins fitted on the ship's bow, to make way for a 14.3°, full-width ski-jump. The 20-ton capacity aircraft lift beside the ship's island superstructure was unchanged, but the aft lift was enlarged, and its lift capacity increased to 30 tons. For STOBAR operations, three 30 m arrestor wires and three restraining gears on the stern of the angled deck were equipped. Sponsons were installed to increase flight deck area, allow the ski-jump to be fitted, for strengthening of arresting gear and runway area, and to lengthen the after end, which allowed an increase to the length of the landing strip aft of the arresting gear. 234 new hull sections were installed to achieve the desired shape, and the total steel added to carry out these modifications amounted to 2500 tons.[12][58][59]

The superstructure profile was designed to accommodate the fixed phased array scanners of the Soviet Navy's Mars-Passat 3D air search radar system, along with extensive command and control facilities to conduct an aerial campaign. Extensive revamp of sensors was carried out, with long-range air-surveillance radars and advanced electronic warfare suites fitted, which enable the maintenance of a surveillance bubble of over 500 km around the ship. An aft mast was installed to accommodate various communication antennae. These changes needed 2,300 km of new cables and 3,000 km of new pipes.[12][59][60]

The eight original boilers were replaced by new generation, high-pressure boilers, converted to take diesel fuel utilising LSHSD (→ Low Sulphur High Speed Diesel) instead of furnace fuel oil, each providing a steam capacity of 100 tonnes per hour.[61] The new boilers are highly efficient and have high levels of automation. They power four propellers in a four-shaft configuration, producing a total thrust of 180,000 horsepower (134,226 kW) at the shaft, providing a top speed of over 30 knots. Six turbo alternators and six diesel alternators generate 18 MW of electricity to power various equipment. Modern oil-water separators, as well as a sewage treatment plant, were incorporated to meet international standards. Six new Finnish Wärtsilä 1.5 MW diesel generators, a Global Marine communications system, Sperry Bridgemaster navigation radar, a new telephone exchange, new data link and an IFF Mk XI system were added. Residential services were improved with the addition of two reverse osmosis plants producing 400 tons of fresh water per day, as well as updated refrigeration and air conditioning. A new galley was installed with improved domestic services and accommodation for 10 female officers.[58][59][62]

Combat systems

edit
Barak 8 SAM and AK-630 CIWS

The combat systems on board the carrier are controlled by LESORUB-E, the computer-aided action information system. It gathers data from the ship's sensors and data links and creates comprehensive situational awareness. The CCS Mk II communication complex is installed for external communications and the Link II tactical data system enables integration into the Indian Navy's network-centric operations. Modern launch and recovery systems are installed for handling different aircraft – the LUNA landing system for MiG-29Ks and the DAPS Landing system for Sea Harriers. The Resistor-E automated air-traffic control system has been installed, which assists with approach, landing and short-range navigation down to a distance of 30 metres short of the flight deck to the pilots. Along with various other sub-systems, it provides navigation and flight data to ship-borne aircraft operating at long distances from the carrier.[12][63]

When delivered, Vikramaditya had yet to be fitted with any onboard armament, leaving her dependent on her battle group for self-defence.[64][65][66][67] This was rectified during the ship's short refit of April–June 2015, when she was fitted with four license-built AK-630 CIWS and a Barak 1 SAM system stripped from the decommissioned INS Godavari. During the ship's first scheduled major refit in 2017, the Barak 1 system will be replaced with the newly developed Barak 8 long-range air-defence system (LR-SAM), which is currently being tested. It is launched from vertical launch cells and has an operational range of 0.5–100 km.[68][69] The carrier will carry up to 48 missiles.[63][65]

The official expected life span of the ship is 40 years, and she is unlikely to require any major repair work for at least a decade.[60][70] Over 70% of the vessel and her equipment is new, and the remainder has been refurbished.[58] Sevmash Shipyard, which upgraded the carrier, will provide warranty servicing, including maintenance for the next 20 years.[71]

Carrier Battle Group

edit

The Carrier Battle Group (CBG) led by INS Vikramaditya includes Kolkata-class destroyers, Talwar-class frigates and INS Deepak among others.[72][73][74]

Air Group

edit
 
MiG 29K takes off from INS Vikramaditya

Vikramaditya has been designed as a STOBAR carrier capable of operating both conventional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, with up to 34 aircraft[13] capable of being accommodated. Its primary embarked aircraft type is the Mikoyan MiG-29K, a navalised version of the Mikoyan MiG-29M. The MiG-29K is an advanced, all-weather multi-role fighter capable of undertaking both the fleet air defence, low-level strike and anti-shipping roles. The primary ASW platform is the venerable Westland Sea King, while the Kamov Ka-31 undertakes AEW. Carriage ranges given for the ship seem to converge around 16–24 MiG-29K and 10 Kamov Ka-31 or Dhruv helicopters; however, Vikramaditya cannot operate fixed-wing AEW aircraft owing to her configuration as a STOBAR carrier.[19] Utility and plane guard duties are undertaken by the HAL Chetak (or HAL Dhruv).[12]

Squadron Name Insignia Aircraft Notes
INAS 300 White Tigers MiG 29KUB
INAS 303 The Black Panthers MiG 29K
INAS 321 The Angels HAL Chetak
INAS 322 The Guardians HAL Dhruv
INAS 330 The Harpoons Sea King
INAS 339 The Falcons Kamov Ka-31

Sea trials and commissioning

edit
 
Indian Navy flotilla with aircraft carriers Vikramaditya and Viraat.

First sea trials

edit
 
Vikramaditya in the Baltic Sea during sea trials in 2013

Russia was scheduled to hand over Vikramaditya to India on 4 December 2012,[75] with sea trials scheduled to begin on 29 May 2012.[76] The sea trials began on 8 June. The ship sailed out for pre-delivery trials from the berth of the Sevmash shipyard in Russia's northern city of Severodvinsk. These trials were to include landing and take-off of fighter jets from the deck of the carrier.[77][78][79]

On 17 September 2012, malfunctions were detected during trials. According to an official report, seven out of eight steam boilers of the propulsion machinery were out of order. Due to this, the deadline to hand over this ship to the Indian Navy was postponed again until October 2013.[80] Later investigation has determined that the cause of the engine failure was poor workmanship and supervision.[81] The Gorshkov and other ships of the 1143.4 class had a history of multiple boiler failures;[citation needed] however, Russian shipbuilders claimed that the problem was the low-grade Chinese-made fire bricks bought by the Indian Navy that were used in the boiler insulation instead of asbestos.[82]

Second sea trials

edit

On 3 July 2013, Igor Sevastyanov, deputy head of Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, announced that the warship had departed for sea trials with a mix of Russian and Indian crew.[83] On 28 July 2013, it was reported that Vikramaditya had successfully completed her sea trials and was able to reach her maximum speed of 32 knots. She then proceeded to the White Sea for aviation trials,[24] carried out by Russia's Northern Fleet aviation and completed in September 2013.[25][84] Aircraft and helicopters flew around and over the ship to check the performance of its radar, air defence, communication and control systems, and MiG specialists praised the ski-jump ramp.[85]

The sea trials lasted three months. The carrier's electronic warfare and jamming capability was demonstrated when Sukhoi-33s, Kamovs, MiG-29s and A-50 early warning aircraft failed to "paint" the carrier using their radars, whereas the incoming aircraft were detected by the ship at a distance of 350–400 kilometres (220–250 mi). In total, the ship sailed for 31,400 kilometres (19,500 mi) during both trials, controlled 778 aircraft and helicopter flights, and conducted 88 landings by Russian pilots.[60][85] During the second sea trial, she sailed for 13,800 kilometres (8,600 mi), of which 2,700 kilometres (1,700 mi) were under the command of the ship's Indian captain Commodore Suraj Berry.[86]

Surveillance by NATO

edit

During sea trials, a Lockheed P-3 Orion patrol aircraft observed Vikramaditya. While in international waters, it flew close to the ship to take photographs and dropped sonobuoys to record the ship's acoustic signature. The aircraft left the area when a Russian MiG-29 fighter arrived. A Norwegian ship was also seen to observe Vikramaditya.[87][dubiousdiscuss]

Commissioning

edit
 
The Indian Navy ensign is hoisted aboard Vikramaditya as she is commissioned at Sevmash Shipyard in Russia.

The ship was formally commissioned on 16 November 2013 at a ceremony held at Severodvinsk, Russia.[26] The ceremony was attended by the then-Indian defence minister A. K. Antony and the Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin.

Service history

edit
 
Vikramaditya being escorted by INS Viraat and other ships of the Western Fleet in the Arabian Sea.
 
INS Vikramaditya with ships of Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the United States Navy during Malabar 2020 .
 
Vikramaditya (centre) alongside USS Nimitz (foreground) and JS Izumo (background) during Exercise Malabar in July 2017

After commissioning, the carrier began a continuous 26-day journey of 10,212 nautical miles to its homeport at INS Kadamba, Karwar, from Severodvinsk on 27 November 2013, with a short stopover in Lisbon.[88][89] She was under the command of Commodore Suraj Berry, her first Indian captain.[85] Apart from her Indian crew, she also carried 177 Russian specialists from Sevmash, who would remain on board for one year, as part of the 20-year post-warranty services contract with the shipyard. During the journey, she encountered a storm in the Barents Sea, where she linked up with her escorts frigate INS Trikand and fleet tanker INS Deepak.[90] The group was escorted by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth while passing through the English Channel[91] and was joined by destroyer INS Delhi near Gibraltar.[88]

The flotilla sailed in the Mediterranean Sea, passed through the Suez Canal[86][92] and entered the Arabian Sea near the Gulf of Aden on 1 January 2014. She was received nearly 1,200 nautical miles (2,200 km) away from Indian shores by a large flotilla of the Western fleet.[93] It was composed of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, two Delhi-class destroyers, three Talwar-class frigates, the frigate INS Godavari, and a couple of offshore patrol vessels, including INS Subhadra.[88] The event was significant as the Indian Navy operated two aircraft carriers simultaneously for the first time in 20 years.[94] After conducting basic sea exercises with the fleet,[95] Vikramaditya reached Karwar on 7 January 2014.[96][97][98]

Navy pilots of INAS 303 "Black Panthers" operating the MiG-29K practised carrier operations at the shore-based test facility (SBTF) in INS Hansa, Dabolim, Vasco-da-Gama. The first aircraft piloted by an Indian Navy pilot landed on the carrier on 8 February 2014.[99] Since then, the pilots and air controllers have been certified to operate the MiG-29K fighters from the carrier deck, including night landings. The carrier's air wing will consist of 16 MiG-29Ks, including four KUB trainers, six airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) Kamov Ka-31 and Kamov Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters.[63]

In May 2014, the carrier was declared operationally deployed along with its embarked air group comprising MiG-29Ks and had taken part in a war game conducted by the Western Naval Command.[100][101] On 14 June 2014, the Prime Minister of India dedicated the carrier to the country.[102]

On 8 December 2015, Indian Defence-Ministry sources stated that the INS Vikramaditya would receive its first major overhaul in September 2016 as part of the "Make in India" initiative. The state-owned Cochin Shipyards and the Pipavav shipyards will overhaul the carrier once she is in dry dock.[103]

On 21–22 January 2016, Vikramaditya, accompanied by INS Mysore, made her first overseas port visit when the ship visited Colombo in Sri Lanka, making the first visit of an Indian warship to the city in 30 years, and the first by an aircraft carrier in more than 40 years.[104][105]

On 15–18 February 2016, Vikramaditya accompanied by two ships, INS Mysore and INS Deepak, made a goodwill visit to Male, Maldives.[106][107]

In September 2016, Vikramaditya was dry-docked in Kochi for a month-long refit by Cochin Shipyards; the refit was completed in November, a month ahead of schedule.[108]

A State Bank of India ATM was opened onboard Vikramaditya on 21 January 2017, making her the first Indian Navy ship to have an ATM.[109]

In January 2020, Vikramaditya was used to undertake the first carrier trials of the naval version of the HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. Over eight to ten days, the Tejas was launched and recovered several times as part of the aircraft's initial test phase. The Tejas was the first indigenous Indian aircraft to both land on and take off from an Indian aircraft carrier.[110]

In June 2023, Indian Navy showcased the dual carrier operations including INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant (R11). The exercise included 35 aircraft including MiG 29K, MH 60R, Kamov Ka 31, Sea King, Chetak and HAL Dhruv. This helped in the integration of the aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy and displayed the maritime prowess of India.[111]

In mid February 2024, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya participated in Milan 2024 multinational naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy along with other ships, submarines and aircraft of friendly foreign nations. The concluding ceremony of the sea phase of the exercise was hosted on board INS Vikrant.[112]

In late February and early March 2024, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant were again deployed for conducting joint operations on various locations along the Indian coastline with escorts. In the first week of March, while INS Vikramaditya was hosting the first half of the Indian Navy's Biannual Naval Commanders' Conference 2024, both carriers launched MiG-29K fighters simultaneously. In addition, the carriers accommodated and conveyed numerous reporters to report on the commissioning ceremony of INS Jatayu, located on Minicoy Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago on the southwest coast of mainland India.[113]

On 20 August 2024, INS Vikrant officially joined the Western Fleet, when deployed for a multi-domain exercise and twin carrier fighter operations in the Arabian Sea along with the Carrier Battle Group (CBG) led by INS Vikramaditya.[72][73][74]

On 5 and 6 October, Carrier Strike Groups of the Indian Navy and the Italian Navy led by INS Vikramaditya and ITS Cavour and accompanied by INS Visakhapatnam and ITS Alpino participated in a maritime bilateral exercise in the Arabian Sea. The exercise included aircraft like MiG-29K, F-35B and AV-8B Harrier II and integral helicopters. Operations in the sea phase included intense flight operations with fighter jets and helicopters for combined Large Force Engagements, Air Combat Missions, Helicopter Operations and Search & Rescue missions as well as co-ordinated weapon firings & joint manoeuvres to enhance joint operations, Command & Control capabilities and interoperability. The exercise also saw the participation of the Indian Air Force. During the Harbour Phase from 1 to 4 October, the exercise saw Subject Matter Expert exchanges and other key interactions as well as a Pre-Sail Planning Conference.[114][115][116]

The expected official life of INS Vikramaditya is 40 years.[117][118]

Commanding officers

edit
S. No. Name Assumed office Left office Notes
1 Captain Suraj Berry 16 November 2013 2 November 2015 Current Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command.[119]
2 Captain Krishna Swaminathan 2 November 2015 20 July 2017 Current Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.[120]
3 Captain Ajay Kochhar 20 July 2017 26 May 2018 Current Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command.[121]
4 Captain Puruvir Das NM 26 May 2018 2019 Later Chief Instructor (Navy), DSSC Wellington.[122]
5 Captain Rajesh Dhankhar NM 2019 2020 Later Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.[123]
6 Captain C. R. Praveen Nair NM 2020 3 December 2021 Commissioning CO of INS Chennai (D65).
Later Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.[124][125]
7 Captain Susheel Menon VSM 4 December 2021 6 May 2023 Current Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.[126]
8 Captain Vishal Bishnoi 6 May 2023 Present Current CO.[127]

Affiliations

edit
 
The Bihar Regiment posing aboard Vikramaditya, with which they are affiliated. In the background are insignia of all the squadrons affiliated with the ship.

On 17 January 2018, Vikramaditya was ceremonially affiliated to the following formations:[128]

Accidents and incidents

edit

On 10 June 2016, while undergoing a scheduled major refit of INS Vikramaditya,[129] two people were killed by a toxic gas leak that occurred during maintenance work in the Sewage Treatment Plant compartment of INS Vikramaditya at Karwar. Two other people were injured and taken to the naval hospital.[130][131]

On 28 February 2017, a MiG-29K aircraft that took off from Vikramaditya had to make an emergency landing at Mangalore International Airport due to hydraulic failure.[132]

On 26 April 2019, one naval officer died of smoke inhalation at Karwar's naval hospital INHS Patanjali, and seven others were injured after fighting a fire that erupted in the boiler room of Vikramaditya on her course to INS Kadamba.[133]

A MiG 29KUB disembarking from INS Vikramaditya enroute to INS Hansa crashed in the sea on 26 November 2020, resulting in the death of a pilot, Commander Nishant Singh.[134]

On 20 July 2022, a fire broke out during a planned sortie for conducting sea trials off Karwar in the Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka. No casualties were reported.[135]

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Literally Vikramaditya translates as being "Sun (Aditya) of valour" (Vikram). The component āditya (sun) literally means "he who belongs to Aditi". It was the title of the most famous Indian king in Indian history, Vikramaditya of Ujjain, famed as a noble ruler and a mighty warrior. The ruler ruled between 380 and 413/15 AD. .

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c PTI (11 March 2010). "Gorshkov deal finalised at USD 2.3 billion". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Laying the keel of India's third nuclear-powered aircraft carrier". Financialexpress. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya set to join Indian Navy on November 16". The Indian Express. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Aircraft Carrier: INS Vikramaditya". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. ^ "INS Vikramaditya motto is 'Strike Far, Strike Sure'". India Today. 17 November 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Project 11434". Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  7. ^ "NAVY – Project 1143". Bharat-Rakshak.com. 17 November 2008. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Indian Carrier Begins Sea Trials | Defense News". defensenews.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Navy's largest ship 'INS Vikramaditya' Commissioned". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  10. ^ "INS VIKRAMADITYA VR TOUR HD - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Vikramaditya to be handed to the Indian Navy on November 16". India & Russia Report. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "'Vikramaditya' to be Commissioned on 16 Nov 13". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Prime Minister Spends A Day Onboard INS Vikramaditya". PIB. MOD. 14 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  14. ^ PTI (1 February 2013). "Engine problems in INS Vikramaditya fixed, sea trial to start in June – Economic Times". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2013. an endurance of 13,500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at a cruising speed of 18 knots. It will have an air wing consisting of Russian-made MiG-29K jet fighter planes and Kamov Ka-31 early warning radar helicopters.
  15. ^ "INS Vikramaditya to get its own missile shield soon". Times of India. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  16. ^ "INS Vikramaditya won't have air defence system for now". Indian Express. 3 August 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  17. ^ Anandan, S. (7 August 2013). "INS Vikramaditya will serve Navy for 30 years". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  18. ^ "Misses, waits & progress in naval missiles". Business Standard. 2 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  19. ^ a b c "INS Vikrant: India's New Carrier-Gorshkov-Vikramaditya: Aerial Complement". 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  20. ^ "About INS Vikramaditya - The newest & largest ship of Indian Navy | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  21. ^ Bharat Verma 2011, pp. 45–46.
  22. ^ Terry Brien 2012, p. 1145.
  23. ^ "INS Vikramaditya: Everything you Need to about warship". www.theindianhawk.com. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  24. ^ a b Kumar, Vinay (28 July 2013). "INS Vikramaditya sea trials successful". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  25. ^ a b Kumar, Vinay (17 September 2013). "Vikramaditya likely to be delivered in mid-November". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  26. ^ a b "Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya inducted into Indian Navy". IBN Live. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  27. ^ "PM Modi inducts INS Vikramaditya into Navy, dedicates it to nation". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  28. ^ "PM Narendra Modi dedicates largest warship INS Vikramaditya to the nation, pitches for self-reliance". The Indian Express. 14 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014.
  29. ^ "Naval Air: Go For Gorshkov". Strategypage.com. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  30. ^ "WHAT'S HOT? ANALYSIS OF RECENT HAPPENINGS – Aero India 2005 – Naval Interests – An IDC Report". IndiaDefence.com. 9 February 2005. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009.
  31. ^ "Indian Navy Mulls Northrop Advanced Hawkeye". Aviationweek.com. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  32. ^ Defence Talk Archived 25 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine – Pictures of the Gorshkov being worked on in dry docks
  33. ^ Defense Industry Daily Archived 25 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine INS Vikramaditya Hits Delay, Cost Increases
  34. ^ "Major repairs for the INS Viraat, its replacement delayed again by Russia". NDTV. 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014.
  35. ^ "India to pay more for Gorshkov". NDTV. 25 February 2008. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  36. ^ Anandan, S. (29 September 2008). "Keel-laying of indigenous aircraft carrier in December". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  37. ^ Pratiyogita Darpan. January 2009. p. PD/January/2009/1140.
  38. ^ Gupta, Shishir (3 December 2008). "Gorshkov: Medvedev on his way, Centre okays price renegotiation". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  39. ^ "'Second-hand' Gorshkov costlier than new warship: CAG". The Times of India. 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009.
  40. ^ "Site Under Construction". ptinews.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009.
  41. ^ Dyomkin, Denis (7 December 2009). "Russia agrees carrier delivery terms with India". Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  42. ^ "India, Russia end stalemate over Gorshkov price deal". The Times of India. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017.
  43. ^ "India, Russia end stalemate over Gorshkov's price deal". Indianexpress. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  44. ^ Dutta, Sujan (16 April 2010). "Speedy probe into navy 'honey trap' – Panel hands in report on commodore". Calcutta, India: telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011.
  45. ^ "Senior navy officer to be sacked for sexual misconduct". Sify News. 5 February 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012.
  46. ^ "Repair of Gorshkov's hull completed". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 18 October 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  47. ^ Christopher P. Cavas (8 December 2008). "Russian Carrier Conversion Moves Forward". Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  48. ^ a b "Gorshkov to be handed over to India by Dec '12". The Times of India. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017.
  49. ^ Fish, Tim (22 June 2010). "Indian carrier's deck systems tested with MiG-29K prototype". Janes.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  50. ^ "The U.S. tries to shut Russia out of India's defense market". Weeklystandard.com. 21 February 2008. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  51. ^ "Only few technical, financial issues pending on Gorshkov deal".[permanent dead link]
  52. ^ (AFP) – 27 February 2008 (27 February 2008). "India, Russia end spat over Soviet-era aircraft carrier". Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  53. ^ "Defence News – Indian Aircraft Carrier in Barents Sea Trials". Defencenews.in. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  54. ^ "INS Vikramaditya Trials Finally Begin". Archived from the original on 13 March 2011.
  55. ^ "Russia Postpones Sea Trials for Aircraft Carrier Admiral Gorshkov for Next Year". Shipbuilding Tribune. 17 October 2011. Archived from the original on 30 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  56. ^ "Navy personnel begin training on Admiral Gorshkov". Brahmand.com. 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  57. ^ "Russia: Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya Becomes Entirely Self-Contained". Shipbuilding Tribune. 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  58. ^ a b c d John Pike. "R Vikramaditya [ex-Gorshkov]". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  59. ^ a b c d "INS Vikramaditya – Game changer". PIB. 17 November 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  60. ^ a b c "Navy to get refurbished Vikramaditya tomorrow". The Hindu. 15 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  61. ^ "'Vikramaditya' to be Commissioned on 16 Nov 13". Indian Navy. 16 November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  62. ^ "Prime Minister's Day at Sea". Indian Navy. 16 June 2014. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  63. ^ a b c "Indian Navy chief: Vikramaditya deployed with MiG-29s embarked". Jane's. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  64. ^ "INS Vikramaditya yet to be fitted with close-in weapon system". 4 December 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014.
  65. ^ a b "Close-In Warfare System on INS Vikramaditya next year". The Tribune. 16 June 2014. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  66. ^ "INS Vikramaditya won't have air defence system for now". indianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014.
  67. ^ Raghuvanshi, Vivek (11 March 2014). "Indian Navy To Open Search for Carrier Air Defense System". www.defensenews.com. Gannett Government Media. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  68. ^ Dutta, Sujan (28 November 2015). "Israel ship missile test for India". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016.
  69. ^ Pandit, Rajat (28 November 2015). "Gen Next missile defence shield built by Israel and India clears first hurdle". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  70. ^ Aroor, Shiv (17 November 2013). "INS Vikramaditya joins Indian Navy: Shiv Aroor on why India is relieved that the battleship is finally here". India Today. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  71. ^ "Sevmash chosen for INS Vikramaditya post-warranty servicing". Russia & India Report. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  72. ^ a b Bose, Mrityunjay. "Indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant joins Western Fleet". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  73. ^ a b Deshpande, Smruti (20 September 2024). "Indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant joins Navy's Western Fleet, ready for deployment". ThePrint. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  74. ^ a b @IN_WNC (20 September 2024). "#INSVikrant, India's indigenous aircraft carrier, joined the @IN_WesternFleet, in a significant enhancement to the maritime power and reach of the #IndianNavy's 'Sword Arm'..." (Tweet). Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Twitter.
  75. ^ "Russia will hand over modernized aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (former Admiral Gorshkov) to India on Dec 4, 2012". Navaltoday.com. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  76. ^ "Indian Navy to Take Over Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya in December". shipbuildingtribune.com. 7 March 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  77. ^ Kumar, Vinay (29 June 2012). "INS Vikramaditya undergoing sea trials". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012.
  78. ^ Radyuhin, Vladimir (8 June 2012). "INS Vikramaditya begins sea trials". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
  79. ^ "India's New Russian Carrier Finally Goes To Sea". ainonline.com. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012.
  80. ^ "INS Vikramaditya trial malfunctions to delay handover to India". The Times of India. 17 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013.
  81. ^ Russia Copes With The Vikramaditya Disaster Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine – Strategypage.com, 14 October 2012
  82. ^ PTI (1 February 2013). "Engine problems in INS Vikramaditya fixed, sea trial to start in June – Economic Times". The Economic Times. Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  83. ^ "Indian Carrier Sails From Russia for Final Sea Trials". RIA Novosti. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  84. ^ Press Trust of India (22 February 2013). "Russia to hand over INS Vikramaditya to India in November". business-standard.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013.
  85. ^ a b c "Commodore Suraj Berry's finest hour". IndRus. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  86. ^ a b "Navy set to get its largest aircraft carrier tomorrow". The Indian Express. 15 November 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  87. ^ "INS Vikramaditya was spied upon by NATO aircraft and ship last year but the matter was hushed up". intoday.in. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.
  88. ^ a b c "INS Vikramaditya enters Indian Navy's area of operation". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 4 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  89. ^ "INS Vikramaditya completes transoceanic voyage, arrives in India". IndRus. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  90. ^ Anandan, S. (27 November 2013). "INS Vikramaditya sets sail for India". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  91. ^ "HMS Monmouth Helps Mammoth Aircraft Carrier Through Channel". Royal Navy. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  92. ^ "INS Vikramaditya approaches Murmansk for refuelling". IndRus. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  93. ^ "INS Vikramaditya to Reach by Mid-January". Defence News. 5 January 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  94. ^ "India operates two aircraft carriers after 20 years". The Deccan Chronicle. 7 January 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  95. ^ "INS Vikramaditya to sail to Mumbai & Vizag". SP Publications. 16 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  96. ^ "INS Vikramaditya reaches home base in Karwar". First Post. 7 January 2014. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  97. ^ "INS Vikramaditya reaches Karnataka port". The Indian Express. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  98. ^ "INS Vikramaditya reaches Karwar". Deccan Herald. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  99. ^ "First Indian MiG-29K Fighter Jet Lands on Vikramaditya". Defence News, RIA Novosti. 8 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  100. ^ "INS Vikramaditya operationally deployed: Navy chief". The Hindu. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  101. ^ "Naval exercises off Goa coast today". Archived from the original on 12 May 2014.
  102. ^ "PM Narendra Modi dedicates INS Vikramaditya to nation". The Times of India. 14 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  103. ^ Kulkarni, Pranav (8 December 2015). "INS Vikramaditya set for first overhaul in September". IndianExpress. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  104. ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (21 January 2016). "INS Vikramaditya's maiden overseas port call to Colombo". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  105. ^ "INS Vikramaditya, India's Largest Naval Ship, Arrives in Sri Lanka". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  106. ^ "HaveeruOnline – Major Indian navy fleet due in Maldives". www.haveeru.com.mv. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  107. ^ "With an eye on China, India sends aircraft carrier to Male". The Times of India. 14 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  108. ^ "CSL completes refit of Indian Navy's aircraft-carrier INS Vikramaditya". NavalTechnology.com. 14 November 2016. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  109. ^ "India's Largest Bank Teams up with The Nation's Largest Warship". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  110. ^ "With ski jump, naval light combat aircraft takes off from INS Vikramaditya for 1st time". Hindustan Times. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  111. ^ "COMBINED OPERATIONS OF INS VIKRAMADITYA AND INS VIKRANT". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  112. ^ "Naval exercise Milan comes to a close aboard INS Vikrant in Vishakapatnam". India Today. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  113. ^ Menon, Adithya Krishna (10 March 2024). "Indian Navy Conducts Dual Carrier Operations". Naval News. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  114. ^ "India's MiG-29s Fly With F-35, Harrier Jets In Exercise With Italian Navy". NDTV.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  115. ^ Ray, Kalyan. "India-Italy maiden Carrier Strike Groups exercise off the West Coast". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  116. ^ @indiannavy (7 October 2024). "Historic bilateral #maritime engagement b/n #IndianNavy & @ItalianNavy..." (Tweet). Retrieved 8 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  117. ^ "INS Vikramaditya-Class Indian Aircraft Carrier". Odin US Army TRADOC. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  118. ^ S. Anandan (7 August 2013). ""INS Vikramaditya will serve Navy for 30 years"". The Hindu Online. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  119. ^ Gazeta, Rossiyskaya; Yemelyanenkov, Aleksandr; Vorontsova, Yekaterina (24 September 2013). "Vikramaditya "significant capability-enhancer" for Indian Navy- Commodore Berry". www.rbth.com. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  120. ^ "VICE ADMIRAL KRISHNA SWAMINATHAN, AVSM, VSM ASSUMES CHARGE AS VICE CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  121. ^ "Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar Assumes Charge as Chief of Staff, WNC". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  122. ^ SpokespersonNavy (26 May 2018). "Capt Puruvir Das assumes command of India's only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya". @indiannavy. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  123. ^ "REAR ADMIRAL RAJESH DHANKHAR TAKES OVER COMMAND OF EASTERN FLEET". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  124. ^ "Navy Telefim 2020 (English)". YouTube.
  125. ^ Bose, DHNS, Mrityunjay. "National Defence College team visits naval facilities". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  126. ^ Paniyadi, Gururaj A. (4 December 2021). "Capt Susheel Menon assumes as commanding officer of INS Vikramaditya". Deccan Chronicle.
  127. ^ "https://twitter.com/IN_KTKNA/status/1654863154520924160". Twitter. Retrieved 14 June 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  128. ^ "Indian Navy Press Release, dated 18 January 2018". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  129. ^ Pandit, Rajat (10 June 2016). "Accident on aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, 2 killed". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  130. ^ "Two killed in toxic gas leak on board INS Vikramaditya". Hindustan Times. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  131. ^ "Two killed on board INS Vikramaditya after toxic gas leak". The Indian Express. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  132. ^ Dwarakanath, Nagarjun (28 February 2017). "Navy's Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing at Mangaluru". CNN-News18. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017.
  133. ^ "Naval officer dies while fighting fire on board INS Vikramaditya, probe ordered". The New Indian Express. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  134. ^ Snehesh Alex Philip (29 November 2020). "Engine, design deficiencies — Third crash puts Russian MiG-29K back in focus". The Print Online. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  135. ^ Naik, Yogesh (20 July 2022). "Incident of fire reported onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya". The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 July 2022.

Sources

edit
  • Verma, Bharat (2011). Indian Defence Review Vol. 26.3 Jul-sep 2011. Lancer Publication. ISBN 978-8170622314.
  • Brien, Terry (2012). Twenty Twenty Gk Eng 2012. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-1259001192.
edit