Admiral Gorshkov may join Indian Navy by year-end

[thestringshredder]

The long wait for aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov seems to be over for India, as final acceptance trials of the ship is set to begin in Russia on Thursday.

According to reports, Indian Navy has already begun preparations near Goa in the hope that the much-delayed carrier Admiral Gorshkov renamed as INS Vikramadatiya would join service by year-end.

A newspaper report quoting sources said that the final acceptance trials lasting almost three months would begin on Thursday, and if all goes according to plan then the Indian Navy would take the ship under its command in another five months from now.

Admiral Gorshkov was originally slated to be handed over to the India Navy in 2008, but it has been plagued by many delays and almost doubling of its cost.

The report quoting Naval sources said that the biggest ship would be operational under Indian command by the year-end.

INS Vikramaditya, which has been refitted at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia, is under the operational command of Russians, though over 700 Indian Navy personnel, are on board, learning operational details and getting accustomed to the ship.

It may be noted that the original contract was signed in 2004 for $974 million, but it had to be hiked to $2.35 billion after the two sides negotiated for more than three years over the Russian demand.

Link - Admiral Gorshkov may join Indian Navy by year-end | idrw.org