INS Vikramaditya: Steaming towards Induction

[JangBoGo]

Earlir news on the sea trials being postponed.

Sea Trials of INS Vikramaditya Can Be Postponed
21.05.2012

Scheduled on May 25, first sortie of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya build by Russia for Indian Navy may not be held, a source in defense industry told Central Navy Portal.

Dockside repair and modernization of Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya under Project 11430 is coming to its end. In accordance with schedule agreed upon with the client, on May 25 the ship is supposed to unberth the Sevmash shipyard's outfitting quay for the first time and take the sea for trials. Currently, the shipwrights are working day and night preparing the ship in order to start sea trials in time.

Central Navy Portal found out that the date of the carrier's first sea-taking may be postponed due to staff changes in Russian Navy command, the need for replacements in governmental commission and some other reasons. According to a source in defense industry, "a time delay is possible, about one week". Therefore, approved and repeatedly named date of May 25 may be postponed for indefinite period.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15168

Vladimir Putin Arrives in Severodvinsk to Inspect INS Vikramaditya Taking Sea
22.05.2012

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin plans to visit Severodvinsk on May 25 to watch aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya taking the sea for the first time after shipyard phase of repairs, a source in Russian defense industry told Central Navy Portal.

Completion of dockside phase of works is an important milestone in the Russian-Indian contract on repair and modernization of INS Vikramaditya by Sevmash shipyard. According to the contract, the ship is to start sea trials on May 25. To fulfill contractual obligations, all capabilities of Sevmash shipyard are applied. High-ranking officials of the shipyard and shipbuilding industry reiterated about definitive meeting of that deadline.

The president will be accompanied by directors and top officials of United Shipbuilding Corporation, Rosoboronexport, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Defense Ministry, and other state agencies.

As the source assumed, apart from the carrier's trials, the contract for construction of Borei-A and Yasen submarines can be signed in Severodvinsk in the presence of Vladimir Putin or at least extended conference may take place in order to settle the problem. Recall that the contract on aforementioned submarines has not been signed so far due to pricing contradiction between defense ministry and United Shipbuilding Corporation.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15174

Indian Aircraft Carrier Sea Trials Postponed Until June
SEVERODVINSK, May 23 (RIA Novosti)

Sea trials of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier being overhauled for the Indian navy at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia have been postponed until the beginning of June, the shipyard said on Wednesday.

The purchase of the Soviet-built Admiral Gorshkov was agreed in 2005 but delivery to India has been long delayed. The cost of refurbishing the aircraft carrier, to be renamed INS Vikramaditya, has since gone up from $947 million to $2.3 billion.

“The start of the sea trials has been moved to the beginning of June,” a Sevmash spokesman said.

The vessel was originally scheduled to sail for trials in the White Sea and the Barents Sea on May 25.

The delay could have been caused by poor weather forecast in the trials area next week, the official said.

The delivery of the Admiral Gorshkov to the Indian navy is expected in December 2012.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20120523/173633391.html

[JangBoGo]

Very good ariel shots of the Sevmash area...and INS Vikramaditya.

[JangBoGo]

Photo of INS Vikramaditya from 23rd May 2012



and another glimpse of INS Vikramditya...
http://pics.livejournal.com/kuleshovoleg/pic/000ed3a9

[JangBoGo]

Some still have doubts regarding the bow section. Below two pictures will help clear the doubts and give a good idea on how much the new deck stretches.

INS Vikramaditya with an overall length of ~284m is nearly 10 meters longer than Gorshkov's overall length of 273m.

The illustration shows
- 780t was removed from Gorshkov
- 8,500t was added in INS Vikramaditya.
It might mean basic displacement of INS Vikramaditya is 7720t more than Gorshkov.

[TR1]

[TR1]

[JangBoGo]

TR1,
it was a treat man. Great stuff.

some more pictures from the album.



The below deck claw & arrester wire apparatus.







Boats @ starboard probably means they never considered as an option (?) for the MiG-29K to be parked in that area or to make use of that space to tow them across to the back. But the people in that picture gives us an estimation that there is enough space/width for MiG-29K to be placed there. Probably they did not want to take risk due to the two cranes at each end???





https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4...4/IMG_7256.JPG
^^^ this is probably the new aft lift (30 ton) that is represented in green color in the above illustration.

[Witcha]

Those were some incredible photos, TR1 and JangBoGo! This is the first time I've seen so much of both the exterior and interior, especially stuff like the elevators, galley and navigation systems!

Can you tell me which blog you got those from? Because the pictures are all gone now.

[killerbean]

They were from a picasa album... which seems to have been taken down now.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1179903...ramaditia_may#

Hopefully we get more interior pics later on

[TR1]

Those pics were by Pilot, but he took them down, guess someone wasn't happy.

http://jjamwal.in/blog/2012/05/ins-v...t-carrier.html

Luckily this guy backed them up.

[JangBoGo]

too bad that Sergei had to pull out the albums. If the albums were pull out due to complaints from IN, then we may not be lucky to see much of sea trial snaps other than what pass the IN censor board. :-(

The model displayed (post #64) & the 2nd picture below is probably the definite version of what INS Vikramaditya will be like when handed over to IN.
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/att...3&d=1338131259
14x MiG-29K/KUB will make up the normal air wing like shown in the model and the rest probably inside the hanger. So theoretically 16-24 x MiG-29K/KUB is possible.

Witcha,
its all thanks to Sergei, lets hope he or Oleg has some plans for the sea-trails.
http://pilot.strizhi.info/
https://picasaweb.google.com/117990383296131038585

Having Vishnu Som will be a good idea. But the likely problem to be encountered with him is he will sneak through for a ride in the MiG-29K and forget completely about the ship.

[Victor]

wrong thread

[TR1]

Vikra farted hard a few days ago. No fire, situation was controlled within 5 minutes. Starting sea trials sometime this month.

[snake65]

Vikra farted hard a few days ago. No fire, situation was controlled within 5 minutes. Starting sea trials sometime this month.

Heat insulation burning, no open fire.

Leaving on 8th June, 2 am.

[Witcha]

Vikra farted hard a few days ago. No fire, situation was controlled within 5 minutes. Starting sea trials sometime this month.

Looks like the propulsion system isn't as trouble-free as the navy would like. I hope this doesn't result in operational difficulties throughout the ship's life.

[TR1]

Heat insulation burning, no open fire.

Leaving on 8th June, 2 am.

They are still sticking to the 8th? Must not have been anything serious then.

Either way, trials will surface any problems that are lingering.

[snake65]

http://kuleshovoleg.livejournal.com/64437.html

[killerbean]

And some more pics here -

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/254314.html

[JangBoGo]

The day and glimpse that all of us waited came and did not disappoint. For a moment, when I heard about the time she will be taken out from the bay, I though we may never get to see snaps of her in daylight for her first voyage...


INS Vikramaditya into the open ocean.



^^ courtesy "crazy" photographer...

and one for the man who has made available glimpses from Sevmash for the past many years...



INS Vikramaditya in baackground looks awesome..

[JangBoGo]

how do i get larger size of these images?? TIA

http://vz.ru/photoreport/582856/635990.html
http://www.vedomosti.ru/photogallery/27857/27867

[JangBoGo]

Its a good day overall...INS Vikramaditya started off new life and in Euro Cup 2012, Russia is already leading (expected) by 2 unilateral goals over the Czech after having missed (expected) atleast two golden chances..

INS Vikramaditya begins sea trials
MOSCOW, June 8, 2012
Vladimir Radyuhin



The newly refurbished INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier took to the sea for the first time on Friday.

The carrier sailed out for crucial pre-delivery trials in the early hours of June 8 from the berth of the Sevmash shipyard in Russia’s northern city of Severodvinsk, where the former Soviet heavy aviation cruiser Gorshkov had been converted into a regular aircraft carrier christened Vikramaditya.

During the trials, scheduled to last 120 days, all the ship’s systems will be tested.

An entirely Indian touch to INS Vikramaditya
MYSORE, June 8, 2012
R. Krishna Kumar


The dosa-making machine at CFTRI in Mysore. Photo: M.A. Sriram

Six dosa-making and three idli-making machines have been installed on the aircraft carrier

Even as aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, formerly Admiral Gorshkov, is getting ready for pre-induction trials, it has seen the successful demonstration of a product that is exclusively Indian.

For, a group of engineers from Eskay Enterprises, Bangalore, has installed six dosa-making machines and three idli-making machines on board INS Vikramaditya and just returned from Arkhangelsk region in Russia where the ship was docked. It will help serve traditional Indian delicacies to the Indian crew once the ship is commissioned.

The automated dosa and idli making technology was developed by Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and Eskay Enterprises is one of the licensees authorised to manufacture the automated machines.

Sources told The Hindu that initially CFTRI was contacted by the Defence authorities with a request to install the machines on board Admiral Gorshkov which was being overhauled and retrofitted with modern equipment to emerge in its new avatar as INS Vikramaditya.

“But CFTRI being a research institute does not have the mandate for bulk manufacturing of products though it develops the technology. Hence, we asked the Defence Ministry to contact one of our licensees in Bangalore who participated in the bid and was chosen for installation,” the sources said.

S. Krishna Murthy, who owns Eskay Enterprises, said that he obtained the technology from CFTRI and upgraded it for commercial viability before releasing it the market. Both the dosa-making and idli-making machinery have been installed in 12 ships of the Indian Navy so far. “But installing it on board the INS Vikramaditya was privileged work. We have just returned from Russia, and the automated dosa and idli-making machines will be fine-tuned once the ship is handed over to India in December,” Mr. Krishna Murthy said.

The automated technology will enable assembly-line production of 400 dosas and 1,000 idlis an hour on each machine and will cater to the nearly 2,000 crew members who will be on board the ship. Mr. Krishna Murthy said that eight wet grinders have also been installed for grinding rice and other ingredients for batter.

The technology was developed by the CFTRI in 1998 and since then has proved to be popular in major industries where catering for a large workforce requires mass production. The machines have been so designed that they take care of all operations pertaining to making a dosa such as spreading batter to the requisite size, oiling, cooking and even dispensing curry and chutney. The automated technology also ensures that hygienic norms are observed in the kitchen as it obviates manual labour during mass production of idlis and dosas of uniform taste.

on board no one is going to have any delay in getting their dosas and idlis

An earlier report regarding the trial..

Fire in INS Vikramaditya Not Delays Sea Trials
05.06.2012

Fire happened to Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (former Russian cruiser Admiral Gorshkov) retrofitted by defense shipyard Sevmash in Severodvinsk "by no means will affect the ship's gearing up for sea trials", the yard's press secretary Anastasia Nikitinskaya told ITAR-TASS.

According to her, "a fumigation of technical insulation occurred on June 1 and was eliminated in five minutes". "In full accordance with regulations, all people were evacuated from smoke-filled premises, and fire brigades were called, but there was no need for them", explained Mrs. Nikitinskaya.

[JangBoGo]

older article

INS Vikramaditya set for Sea Trials May 25
By Cmde Ranjit B Rai (Retd)
Published: May 2012

Vice Admiral Mahadevan indicated in an informal chat that the capabilities of INS Vikramaditya would be many times more than initially planned....


The key training modules have been kept at 27 for the Commanding officer and air element officers, 23 for engineering and 15 electrical officers, 12 NBCD specialists, 118 weapons senior and junior sailors, 280 mechanics, and 157 maintenance and automation maintainers.

The rest will be provided ‘on board training’ to operate and maintain the Vikramaditya after commissioning.

© India Strategic

Video from RIA Novosti of INS Vikramaditya's depart for sea trials....
http://en.rian.ru/video/20120608/173924755.html

[Jō Asakura]

The day and glimpse that all of us waited came and did not disappoint. For a moment, when I heard about the time she will be taken out from the bay, I though we may never get to see snaps of her in daylight for her first voyage...

Severodvinsk's proximity to the Arctic Circle means the Sun never sets from late May to mid-July, so those pictures could well have been taken at the scheduled departure time of 02:00! A big thanks to Mr. Oleg Kuleshov!

I've never been a fan of the Kiev class and seeing the rusting, beached hull of Gorshkov a few years back made me wonder what the Indians have let themselves in for.
But I have to admit Sevmash did a fine job in the end and INS Vikramaditya certainly looks an impressive and handsome piece of kit. Kudos.

[QuantumFX]

...
http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/d...E_1106849f.jpg

Damn! Can it make 'Paper Dosai' too?

PS: Despite all the naysayers, that rust bucket has transformed into that beauty. Now can't wait until the MiG-29K starts to fly off.

[19K11]

What did the banner say?

[snake65]

What did the banner say?

7 feet under the keel and bon voyage

[TR1]

That large tug that went out with the Vikra is the Nikolay Chiker btw, most powerful tug in the world.

[JangBoGo]

Oleg have added more...
http://kuleshovoleg.livejournal.com/65378.html

posting some more of the brilliant photos.











http://pics.livejournal.com/kuleshovoleg/pic/000hkhh1
http://pics.livejournal.com/kuleshovoleg/pic/000hp6g0

A questions - what is the new white dome that we see at the stern on starboard?

[JangBoGo]

One add-on (rather cut-out) the starboard is the facility for a new boat. In post #64 attachment (illustration on the work done) also we can see a new "cut-out" in front of the existing area. What is it for, just for embarking an additional boat??

The already embarked boats on either sides are not life boats and might be entrusted with securing the perimeter of the carrier on port visits and for making contact with vessels approaching the carrier. All the boats looks like equipped with radar, including the ones stationed on the deck and covered. INS Vikramaditya already have good facility for boats on either side and 3 are stored on the side of the island. The new one makes it a total of 8 boats. Any info on those?





large image.... it gives a good perspective of the starboard extensions and the mast.
http://nl.media.rbth.ru/web/in-rbth/.../vikra_468.jpg

[JangBoGo]

Severodvinsk's proximity to the Arctic Circle means the Sun never sets from late May to mid-July, so those pictures could well have been taken at the scheduled departure time of 02:00! A big thanks to Mr. Oleg Kuleshov!

I've never been a fan of the Kiev class and seeing the rusting, beached hull of Gorshkov a few years back made me wonder what the Indians have let themselves in for.
But I have to admit Sevmash did a fine job in the end and INS Vikramaditya certainly looks an impressive and handsome piece of kit. Kudos.

Jo, good points...i never though about that aspect. But not sure if those images are from the 2-4a.m.

I too have some dislikes for the Kiev class design, mainly the placement of the island and the lifts. Considering that the whole island was built separately and then integrated onto the deck, I do wonder, if modification could have played more with trimming down its footprint into the middle of the deck. But we have to live with it.

Overall it has been a good work from Sevmash even after all the bad publicity and if we take out the 3-4 years of indecision period (fund stagnation) for the project, Sevmash did that splendid job of converting the carrier, undertaking sea trials and delivery in 5-6 years. That is pretty decent record and I'm confident enough to say that if Sevmash is given a contract to built another unit of N-powered Kuznetsov with uninterrupted and steady funding, they will handsomely complete it in 5 years!

TR1,
Thnks for the info.

and some nice shots from the stern...