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| SPECIFICATIONS | PHOTOGRAPHS (Click on the pictures for an enlarged photo) |
 Designation: CV Length: 900 ft Width: 174 ft Beam: 107 ft Displacement: 45,000 tons Propulsion: 8 turbo pressurized boilers, 4 shafts Speed: 32 knots Crew: 1,600 Airwing: 30 fixed, rotary Armament: Uknown Elevators: 2 Ships in class: 1 Vikramaditya (Building)Former Russian Kiev Class carrier, Gorshkov. Sold to India with an entire wing of Mig-29 fighters that will operate off its decks, along with many other Russian contracts to help build and support the vessel. Operations and defensive systems will be a mix of western, Russian, and indeginous Indian systems, like a number of other Indian naval vessels. The Vakramaditya is slated to replace the aging INS Viraat aircraft carrier in 2010, after it is completed, commissioned and finished with trials. In 2012, the Vikramaditya will be joined by the INS Virkant, currently under construction and due to be the first indigenously designed and built Indian aircraft carrier. To date (April 2009) cost overruns continue to plague the refit and the Russians are still looking for the Indians to come up with more money. Despite the differences, work continues and the vessel was recently floated and moved for further outfitting. It is still undetermined if the Indians will complete the project if the costs run too high...in which case the Russians may finish it for themselves. |
         
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