The Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, has successfully completed engine repairs at Russia’s Sevmash shipyard and is scheduled to undergo further sea trials in June.
A United Shipbuilding Corporation source was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying: "All the problems with the boiler insulation have been fixed by Russian specialists with the use of Russian-made components."
Malfunctions in the Russian-built aircraft carrier’s propulsion were detected during its second-stage sea trials in September 2012, which was conducted off the Barents Sea.
During the sea trials, seven out of eight steam boilers of the propulsion machinery had technical issues restricting the carrier from cruising at its maximum speed.
The boilers were designed using low-quality firebrick in place of asbestos to protect from heat after concerns were raised that the material was too dangerous for the crew.
An agreement between the Indian Navy and Russia was signed in 2004 for purchase of the 130m-long carrier, with initial delivery due in 2008.
The 45,000t vessel was later scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy on 4 December 2013, but has now been postponed until October 2013.
Due to refurbishment and repeated delays, the final price of the ship has doubled from $947m to $2.3bn.
Capable of cruising at a speed of 32k, the aircraft carrier has a range of more than 4,000nm and is armed with Hurricane medium-range air defence missile system, eight SS-NX-26 Yakhont anti-ship cruise missiles, a new 130mm gun mount system and a Medvedka-2 ASW system.
Equipped with 3D air search radars and Puma fire control radars, the 130m-long INS Vikramaditya is fitted with sonar suites, including hull-mounted LF sonar and LF VDS sonar, as well as Garpun-BAL SSM targeting and SAM control systems.
Image: Illustration of Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates. Photo: file image.
