INS Vikramaditya started mooring trials

Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is retrofitted for Indian Navy started mooring trials on March 1. Sevmash shipyard's director general Nikolai Kalistratov signed an order to begin the trials. 

This is an essential milestone in the carrier's modernization particularly marked in the general schedule. Outfitting works have reached the final stage. The ship has been gradually filled with equipment, mechanisms, pipelines, cables; and now all those systems must be tested in different modes. 

The trials will be conducted in accordance with special programs and techniques. Tests of main propulsion plant are considered the most complicated and important. The second large-scale goal is testing of radioelectronics, including Indian-made systems, and air-technical facilities. The main purpose of mooring trials is preparation of shipborne systems for further important stage – shipyard's sea trials. The aircraft carrier is planned to take the sea late in 2011.

Aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will be transferred to India late in 2012 – official

All issues regarding delivery of Russian aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov and nuclear-powered attack submarine Nerpa to India have been already settled, they will be handed over to the orderer within the period stipulated, said Mikhail Dmitriev, director of Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC). 

"We have arranged all issues. I think we'll manage to keep within time and cost limits. And, finally, we'll realize all plans", said he in the interview to Kommersant published on Thursday. 

Answering the question when it is planned to deliver Admiral Gorshkov to Indian Navy, Dmitriev said: "By the end of 2012. That was stipulated in documents, and we're going to keep the term. The ship's trials are scheduled in 2011-2012". 

Speaking of transfer of SSN Nerpa to Indian Navy, he said that "everything is ready, there's no problem". 

"Now the matter is at final stage. There's no need for any additional works, maybe just the sub's interior painting and some other minor things. Indian crew has been working with Russian instructors for a long time, and executes a number of tasks. Neither Russian nor Indian partners have any concerns about it", said Mikhail Dmitriev.

Severodvinsk shipbuilders prepare INS Vikramaditya for mooring trials

Defense shipyard Sevmash (Severodvinsk) launched preparations for mooring trials of INSVikramaditya (former Russian aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov), reported Friday ITAR-TASS referring to the shipyard's press service. 

Mainly, what is to be done in the nearest time is assembly of auxiliary steam pipeline system and air conditioning system. "Completion of these works will mark the beginning of mooring trials", specified the shipyard's press service. Basically, all interior works are almost completed. 

According to the package intergovernmental agreement signed in New Delhi in Jan 2004, the hull of Russian aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov was handed over to India for free, providing that the ship would be retrofitted at Sevmash shipyard and equipped with Russian-made air wing.

 Russia will also train about 1,500 Indian crewmembers and construct basing infrastructure in the Indian Ocean. Overall cost of the contract was initially evaluated as $1.5 bln, and all works were planned to be completed in 2008. However, deadlines were postponed. Russian party complained about underestimating of the scope of works and demanded additional payments. A supplement agreement specifying revised costs of repair and upgrade works on INSVikramaditya (stands for "Almighty") was signed on March 12, 2010 during a visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to India. According to Indian party, purchase of the Russian aircraft-carrier will cost $2.33 bln.

Sevmash plans to complete modernization and start mooring trials this year. Late in 2012 the aircraft carrier must be delivered to Indian Navy. Presumably, lifetime of the ship would make 30 years.