INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy's biggest warship which will significantly enhance its reach and capability, was Saturday commissioned by Defence Minister A.K. Antony at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia's Severodvinsk city, marking a new high in India-Russia defence cooperation.
Antony termed the commissioning of the aircraft carrier "a red letter day" in the history of India-Russia cooperation.
He said the relationship remains a matter of the highest priority for the two nations for mutual benefit and as a factor for global peace and stability.
The 44,500-tonne aircraft carrier (originally Admiral Gorshkov) was completely refurbished to suit the needs of the Indian Navy and is expected to project India's maritime power far beyond its shores.
The function, held at sub-zero temperatures, was attended by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.
Antony said the INS Vikramaditya would significantly enhance the reach and capability of the Indian Navy.
He said India's economic development was dependent on the seas and safeguarding the nation's maritime interests was central to India's national policy.
"Aircraft carriers have been part of the Indian Navy's force structure since our independence. The induction of Vikramaditya with its integral MiG29K fighters and Kamov-31 helicopters adds a new dimension to navy's operational capabilities," Antony said.
He said the commissioning of INS Vikramaditya was a realisation of the vision of capability-based transformation of the Indian Navy that was conceived more than a decade ago.
"The successful culmination of Project 11430 (Admiral Gorshkov) truly symbolises the time-tested special and privileged strategic partnership between our two nations.
"The project has propelled the strategic partnership between our nations to a new level," he said.
He expressed confidence that Russia will extend all possible support to ensure that the warship serves India efficiently for the duration of its expected life cycle.
Navy chief Admiral D.K. Joshi said the INS Vikramaditya will bridge the time gap that may come up between the INS Viraat and the indigenously-built aircraft carrier Vikrant, expected to be inducted in 2018.
It will also help achieve the navy's medium term goal of operating two aircraft carriers, he said.
Rogozin said the INS Vikramaditya symbolises the close friendship between India and Russia and expressed confidence that the friendship will grow in the coming years.
Naval officals said the Vikramaditya will be a game changer and transform the face of the air arm fleet of the Indian Navy.
Vikramaditya is 284 metres in length, and with its beam of about 60 metres, it stretches to an area as large as three football fields. It has 22 decks and will have over 1,600 personnel on board.
The warship can carry over 30 aircraft, comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters.
MiG 29K swing role fighter is the main offensive platform and provides a quantum jump for the Indian Navy's maritime strike capability, officials said.
The warship is powered by eight new generation boilers to enable the ship cut through choppy seas with speeds of up to 30 knots.
The ship has provisions to generate 18 megawatts of power, enough to light a small town, and its plants can supply 400 tonnes of fresh water every day.
The warship, previously known as Admiral Gorshkov, is a Project 1143.4 or modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1987 and decommissioned in 1996 as it was too expensive to operate on a post-Soviet era budget.
Negotiations over acquiring Admiral Gorshkov started in 1994. India and Russia signed a $947 million deal in 2004 for the purchase of the carrier, but the original 2008 delivery deadline was delayed twice, pushing up the cost of refurbishing the ship to $2.3 billion.
Officials said the delivery was also delayed due to malfunctioning insulation in boilers.
The warship went through extensive trials for its speed and other parameters in months before its scheduled delivery.
INS Viraat is India's only aircraft carrier at present.
After induction of INS Vikramaditya, Indian Navy will have two aircraft carriers in service.
The aircraft carrier will be escorted by other warships during its voyage back home. It is expected to arrive in India early next year.
Antony termed the commissioning of the aircraft carrier "a red letter day" in the history of India-Russia cooperation.
He said the relationship remains a matter of the highest priority for the two nations for mutual benefit and as a factor for global peace and stability.
The 44,500-tonne aircraft carrier (originally Admiral Gorshkov) was completely refurbished to suit the needs of the Indian Navy and is expected to project India's maritime power far beyond its shores.
The function, held at sub-zero temperatures, was attended by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.
Antony said the INS Vikramaditya would significantly enhance the reach and capability of the Indian Navy.
He said India's economic development was dependent on the seas and safeguarding the nation's maritime interests was central to India's national policy.
"Aircraft carriers have been part of the Indian Navy's force structure since our independence. The induction of Vikramaditya with its integral MiG29K fighters and Kamov-31 helicopters adds a new dimension to navy's operational capabilities," Antony said.
He said the commissioning of INS Vikramaditya was a realisation of the vision of capability-based transformation of the Indian Navy that was conceived more than a decade ago.
"The successful culmination of Project 11430 (Admiral Gorshkov) truly symbolises the time-tested special and privileged strategic partnership between our two nations.
"The project has propelled the strategic partnership between our nations to a new level," he said.
He expressed confidence that Russia will extend all possible support to ensure that the warship serves India efficiently for the duration of its expected life cycle.
Navy chief Admiral D.K. Joshi said the INS Vikramaditya will bridge the time gap that may come up between the INS Viraat and the indigenously-built aircraft carrier Vikrant, expected to be inducted in 2018.
It will also help achieve the navy's medium term goal of operating two aircraft carriers, he said.
Rogozin said the INS Vikramaditya symbolises the close friendship between India and Russia and expressed confidence that the friendship will grow in the coming years.
Naval officals said the Vikramaditya will be a game changer and transform the face of the air arm fleet of the Indian Navy.
Vikramaditya is 284 metres in length, and with its beam of about 60 metres, it stretches to an area as large as three football fields. It has 22 decks and will have over 1,600 personnel on board.
The warship can carry over 30 aircraft, comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters.
MiG 29K swing role fighter is the main offensive platform and provides a quantum jump for the Indian Navy's maritime strike capability, officials said.
The warship is powered by eight new generation boilers to enable the ship cut through choppy seas with speeds of up to 30 knots.
The ship has provisions to generate 18 megawatts of power, enough to light a small town, and its plants can supply 400 tonnes of fresh water every day.
The warship, previously known as Admiral Gorshkov, is a Project 1143.4 or modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1987 and decommissioned in 1996 as it was too expensive to operate on a post-Soviet era budget.
Negotiations over acquiring Admiral Gorshkov started in 1994. India and Russia signed a $947 million deal in 2004 for the purchase of the carrier, but the original 2008 delivery deadline was delayed twice, pushing up the cost of refurbishing the ship to $2.3 billion.
Officials said the delivery was also delayed due to malfunctioning insulation in boilers.
The warship went through extensive trials for its speed and other parameters in months before its scheduled delivery.
INS Viraat is India's only aircraft carrier at present.
After induction of INS Vikramaditya, Indian Navy will have two aircraft carriers in service.
The aircraft carrier will be escorted by other warships during its voyage back home. It is expected to arrive in India early next year.