Summary and key points: In 2013, India commissioned INS Vikramaditya, an aircraft carrier originally built for the Soviet Navy under the name Baku. Acquired in 2004, India funded its modernization and refit at a cost of $800 million and another $1 billion to purchase aircraft and weapons.
-The refurbishment process was subject to delays and cost overruns, doubling the original estimate. The Vikramaditya has a “short takeoff but arrested recovery” (STOBAR) configuration.
-Despite its high costs and challenges, the aircraft carrier bolsters India’s naval capabilities, aiming to counter China’s rapid naval expansion and assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
Was India’s acquisition of the Soviet-built aircraft carrier worth it?
New Delhi commissioned its aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya, in 2013 at a ceremony in Severodvinsk, Russia. The aircraft carrier began life in the Soviet Navy as BakuBut New Delhi bought the ship in 2004 and it has served in the Indian Navy for a decade.
Was it a mistake to buy the old Soviet aircraft carrier?
The nature of the agreement
He Baku It entered service in the Soviet Navy in 1987. After the fall of the Soviet Union, it was renamed Admiral GorshkovIn 1996, the Russians decommissioned the carrier because Moscow’s meager defense budget could not afford the expense.
At the time, India was looking to expand its force projection capability and, sensing an opportunity, New Delhi expressed interest in purchasing the vessel.
Russia and India negotiated for years over the sale of the aircraft carrier and reached an agreement in 2004. The ship itself would cost India nothing, but India would pay the $800 million cost of modernizing and refitting the ship, as well as the $1 billion cost of purchasing aircraft and weapons systems.
The cover of the Vikramaditya The aircraft would be packed with an eclectic mix of aircraft from adversary nations. Models would include the Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye, a U.S. airborne early warning and control aircraft, and the Mikoyan MiG-29K, a Russian multirole fighter.
Meanwhile he Gorshkov Had operated as a hybrid aircraft carrier and cruiser, Indian-funded upgrades turned the ship into a pure aircraft carrier, with a “short takeoff but arrested recovery” or STOBAR configuration. By Vikramaditya entry into the Indian Navy, India’s only light aircraft carrier, the INS Viraatwould soon be discharged.
The modernisation proved a frustrating process for India. Various delays led Russia to demand an additional $1.2 billion, doubling the original cost of the project. Russia attributed the unexpected cost overruns to the deterioration of the ship, citing the “market price” for a new medium-sized aircraft carrier at $3-4 billion.
The new design of the aircraft carrier
Once finally finished, the Vikramaditya It was bigger than the original Baku, Of the original 2,500 bays, 1,750 had been rebuilt. Extensive rewiring was undertaken to support new radars and sensors. Aircraft elevators were modernised and two containment mounts were installed. Major modifications were made to enable the carrier to support STOBAR operations. These included the removal of armament such as P-500 Bazalt cruise missile launchers and Antey Kinzhal surface-to-air missiles to make room for a ski-jumping platform.
Is he Vikramaditya Is India worth the investment?
India is actively racing to keep pace with China’s rapid naval growth. China’s ambitious shipbuilding spree complements its more aggressive posture in the Indo-Pacific region, where Beijing has numerous territorial claims. Vikramaditya It was definitely purchased with the Chinese in mind.
About the author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total articles on topics related to global affairs. A lawyer, pilot, guitarist, and minor professional hockey player, Harrison joined the U.S. Air Force as a trainee pilot but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a bachelor’s degree from Lake Forest College, a J.D. from the University of Oregon, and a master’s degree from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
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