Article Posted on : - Feb 11, 2014

India's largest warship, aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Defence Minister A K Antony has asked the Navy to give a clear picture about reports that its largest warship INS Vikramaditya had suffered glitches during its voyage from Russia to India.

Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi met Antony in his office on Monday and is learnt to have clarified on the issue, Defence Ministry officials said.

The Navy Chief, it is learnt, told the minister that no major glitches were faced by the over Rs 12,000 crore warship during its journey to India.

According to reports, the long-delayed aircraft carrier had suffered a boiler breakdown during its 42-day journey, compromising the warship's ability to cut through choppy seas at a top speed of up to 56 kmph.

The vessel delivery to India was delayed by more than a year after problems occurred in its boilers during sea trials in Russia in 2011.

During the voyage of Vikramaditya to India from Russia, the Navy Headquarters was not happy with the activities of officers on board the ships escorting it to India as they had put up the aircraft carrier and the fleet warships on social media.

The Navy headquarters has also ordered an inquiry into the episode as this was the violation of guidelines and rules banning revelation of service-related details on such websites.