Article Posted on : - Mar 04, 2011

Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier

ARKHANGELSK (BNS): Russia has started the mooring trials of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (erstwhile Russian Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier), at its defence shipyard Sevmash in Severodvinsk, a media report said.

"This is a major step in the modernisation of the ship, which is specially designated in the master schedule and the fitting-out work has entered in its final stage," ARMS TASS quoted press officer of the plant Anastasia Nikitinskaya as saying.

Several equipments, machinery, pipes, cables have been fitted in the ship and these equipments will be soon checked in different modes with special programmes and techniques. The most difficult and important test will be the main power plant test of the vessel, it said.

Later, in the second stage, the electronic armament complexes, including complexes of Indian origin and aviation facilities of the ship will be checked.

As per the original contract signed between the two countries in 2004, the delivery of the aircraft carrier was scheduled in 2008.

However, the two countries were negotiating for the last one year over Russia’s demand for $2 billion over and above the $1.5 billion that New Delhi paid it in 2004.

Indian Navy will receive the aircraft by late 2012 or early 2013.