Indian Navy Should Obtain Russian Aircraft Carriers

2012 is to become a remarkable year for the Indian Navy when a modern beautiful powerful ship-the Vikramaditia aircraft carrier has been scheduled to leave Russia for India to become the Republic’s strongest vessel. The 280m carrier is going to deck 21 Russian-made MiG-29K shipborne fighters plus 13 naval helicopters. The carrier is to become the national pride and power symbol as a blue waters “pen of politics”.

Nowadays Vikramaditia has been refurbished at the Sevmash shipyard based at the Russia’s European north coast at Severodvinsk. The leader of the Russia’s national shipbuilding was assigned for the job to transfer the ex-Soviet Admiral Gorshkov cruiser into an Indian aircraft carrier in 2004 after ten years inter-state negotiations. According to the press reports, in January 2004 the Indian Navy and Rosoboronexport concluded USD 1.5 bln. deal. Almost a half of the sum was supposed to be spent on the ship’s refurbishment while the rest was for the shipborne aviation group. Later on the contract terms and value should have been revised due to the obvious reasons. It turned out that the Sevmash shipbuilders were not going just to upgrade the ship but to fit the hull with the latest technologies, systems and equipment. The hull itself should have been also improved with the flight deck extension till 283 m up to the bow for springboard installation. Apart of that, Admiral Gorshkov is to be equipped with three cable-type arresting gears to shorten the decking MiG-29K fighters’ run. The ship must be also fitted with two lifts with 20 and 30 t payload to bring the aircraft from the bottom deck to the upper one. Hangar and stern lift dimensions are to be extended. The optical aircraft decking system is to be installed too. The ship’s armament must be also improved. Vikramaditia is to receive the latest electronic systems including navigation, radar, C4I. So, the ship is to leave the Russian shipbuilding’ harbor will be a brand new one.

Right now the aircraft carrier is in a high stage of readiness. The Sevmash works and materials quality has always been accepted by the Indian monitors group constantly presenting at the shipyard’s facilities. The shipbuilders’ skills have been confirmed through the long standing experience with the Russian Navy in powerful nuclear submarines to form up Russia’s national nuclear shield. But the Sevmash personnel are ready to react on new requirements from the Indian side. Vikramaditia has become a launching ground for various innovations in production process. The Sevmash engineers were decorated with the new national scientific award - the Lomonosov state prize.

Aircraft carrier upgrade and repair is the most complicated project. Sevmash have contracted over hundred of enterprises to obtain dozens of tons of rolled steel, thousands units of equipment and parts. The ship’ hull employs up to 2000 people daily plus 3000 at the shops and offices.

According to many experts Sevmash created a solid basement for advanced aircraft carrier’ shipbuilding.

At the same time the politicians are busy with the contract’s value negotiation. The deal is close to conclusion with a compromised price to satisfy both sides. But what will be afterwards? Will the first Russian-Indian carrier remain the one and the only? Should India put an eye on the other nations able to build such ships? The answer on all those questions was given during the recent India-Russia presidential summit at Moscow. Manmohan Singh and Dmitry Medvedev concluded several contracts on defense and energy co-operation to make a sign of satisfaction on various subjects including the aircraft carrier deal. It is also a sign that India is not going to try “stranger” partners in such a tentative sphere.