19.12.2014 par Olga Ivachina - La Voix de la Russie

La Marine indienne s’est procuré en 2014 une puissante unité de combat, le porte-avions INS Vikramaditya construit par le chantier naval russe Sevmash.

Pendant la cérémonie de mise en service de ce plus grand bâtiment de guerre indien au printemps 2014, l’INS Vikramaditya a été proclamé vaisseau amiral de la Marine indienne.

Les experts ont noté que l’INS Vikramaditya était devenu l’un des navires les plus puissants et les plus modernes de la flotte de guerre indienne.

Après la remise de l’INS Vikramaditya à l’Inde, la Russie a proposé son aide en matière de maintenance de ce porte-avions moderne. Une représentation du chantier naval russe Sevmash s’est ouverte en novembre dans la base navale indienne de Karwar, a raconté le premier vice-président de l’Académie des problèmes géopolitiques, Konstantin Sivkov.

« C’est une nouvelle étape de coopération entre la Russie et l’Inde. Ce n’était pas le cas auparavant. La représentation du chantier naval Sevmash assurera la maintenance du porte-avions INS Vikramaditya. Le groupe électrogène principal du navire, son système de conduite du tir, son système de défense antiaérienne et d’autres types de matériel électronique sont de fabrication russe. C’est un matériel très sophistiqué et coûteux, un matériel qui a besoin d’un entretien permanent, tant pour le maintenir en bon état que pour le moderniser ensuite par étapes ».

Dans sa représentation en Inde, Sevmash rendra des services de consultation et mènera des travaux préventifs et si nécessaire des travaux d’entretien. En outre, les spécialistes russes aideront à adapter le matériel de bord aux nouvelles exigences de la Marine indienne, à moderniser le logiciel pour l’armement et le système de conduite du tir, etc. Comme l’a annoncé l’agence de presse russe TASS, Sevmash se chargera de la maintenance pendant toute la durée de service de l’INS Vikramaditya qui se monte à 20 ans mais qui pourrait être prolongée.

Les analystes militaires constatent qu’après la mise en service de l’INS Vikramaditya, l’Inde est devenue le seul pays du bassin de l’océan Indien à disposer de deux porte-avions. Le porte-avions INS Viraat est quant à lui opérationnel depuis 55 ans mais il sera finalement remplacé par le porte-avions moderne INS Vikrant, en voie de construction dans un chantier naval indien. Les essais à la mer de ce navire sont prévus pour 2017 et sa mise en service pour la fin de 2018.

NEW DELHI, 8 janvier - RIA Novosti

Le porte-avions modernisé Vikramaditya, remis le 16 novembre dernier par la Russie à la Marine indienne, est arrivé mardi dans la base navale de Karvar, dans l'Etat de Karnataka (sud de l'Inde), rapporte la chaîne de télévision locale IBN, se référant à une source au sein des Forces navales du pays.

Le processus d'intégration du porte-avions dans les rangs de la Marine indienne prendra entre trois et quatre mois, précise la source. Le Vikramaditya a été livré à l'Inde sans avions, ni armements. 

Une équipe de spécialistes russes chargée d'assurer les travaux de maintenance prévus par garantie restera à Karvar pendant un an. 

La Russie a modernisé le porte-avions soviétique Admiral Gorchkov pour la Marine indienne conformément à un contrat de 2004. Le porte-avions modernisé a été rebaptisé Vikramaditya (fort comme le Soleil).

December 5, 2013: Strategy Page

The new Russian built Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya was turned over to the Indian Navy on November 16th and left for India ten days later. There’s one major problem however. Vikramaditya is not combat ready yet. When Vikramaditya arrives at its home port in late January it will be without its primary LRSAM/Barak 8 anti-aircraft missile system. Vikramaditya is supposed to be fully operational by mid-2014 but that won’t happen until it receives its Israeli designed air defense system. In the meantime the carrier does have several AK-630 Russian made six-barrel 30mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS), for defense against anti-ship missiles as well as MiG-29 fighters. But the long range anti-aircraft missiles are a major part of the air defenses.

It’s all about persistent Indian problems with managing the development of military technology. India and Israel have a deal to jointly develop and manufacture the new Barak 8 anti-aircraft missile. India calls their version LRSAM (Long Range Surface to Air Missile) and while most (70 percent) of the development work has been done in Israel, India is the major customer (buying $1.1 billion worth of LRSAM/Barak 8 for their warships). Because India has a larger navy, they will be the major user. The two countries evenly split the $350 million development cost. The Indian delay is because of problems developing features India wanted and some Indian made components in LRSAM. While the Barak 8 is being installed in some Israeli ships right now, Israel cannot just install Barak 8 in Vikramaditya until the two countries resolve some differences over the transfer of some Israeli technology to India. This has also been a problem with other Western nations and the Indian government has not been willing to change Indian laws and patent protections to avoid these problems.

Over the last few years India found that they had a major problem with LRSAM; they did not have enough engineers in the government procurement bureaucracy to quickly and accurately transfer the Israeli technical data to the Indian manufacturers. In addition, some of the Indian firms that were to manufacture Barak 8 either misrepresented their capabilities or did not know until it was too late that they did not have the personnel or equipment to handle manufacture of Barak 8 components.

Meanwhile Israel is already manufacturing and installing the new Barak 8 on its three 1,075 ton Saar 5 class corvettes. This means Barak 8 will be ready for action over a year before its scheduled 2015 service date. Israel is believed to be rushing this installation because Russia has sent high speed Yakhont anti-ship missiles to Syria and Barak 8 was designed to deal with this kind of threat. Barak 8 is also Israel’s first air defense system equal to the American Patriot (and similar systems like the U.S. Navy SM-2, Russian S-300 and European Aster 15). An improved Barak 8 would be able to shoot down short range ballistic missiles.

The Barak 8 is a 275 kg (605 pound) missile with a 60 kg (132 pound) warhead and a range of 70 kilometers. The warhead has its own seeker that can find the target despite most countermeasures. The missiles are mounted in a three ton, eight cell container (which requires little maintenance) and are launched straight up. The compact (for easy installation on a ship) fire control module weighs under two tons.

The original Barak 1 missiles was introduced in the 1980s and is also used by the Indian Navy. Each Barak 1 missile weighs 98 kg (216 pounds) each and has a 21.8 kg (48 pound) warhead. These missiles were also mounted in an eight cell container. The radar system provides 360 degree coverage and the missiles can take down an incoming missile as close as 500 meters away from the ship. The missile has a range of ten kilometers, and is also effective against aircraft. India has bought over $300 million worth of these systems.

30 novembre, Sergueï Tomine - La Voix de la Russie

L'histoire de la modernisation et du transfert à l'Inde du croiseur porte-avions Admiral Gorchkov transformé en porte-avions Vikramaditya n'était pas brève. En 2004, année de la signature du contrat sur Admiral Gorchkov, personne à Moscou et à New Delhi ne supputait que sa réalisation s'étalerait à près de dix ans et qu'outre des reports de sa date d'exécution, les relations entre les deux pays seraient pendant un certain temps assombries par l'absence du financement, le renchérissement du contrat et des travaux complémentaires non prévus.

Pour l'heure, tous ces problèmes sont dans le passé. La partie russe a démontré sa volonté d'aller à la rencontre du partenaire, et la partie indienne a eu assez de retenue et de tact pour ne pas exacerber les tensions. En fin de compte un bâtiment tout à fait nouveau, équipé des instruments de navigation les plus modernes et capable d'embarquer 30 aéronefs, plus particulièrement les avions MiG-29K et les hélicoptères Ka-27 et Ka-31 se dirige vers les côtes indiennes.

Tous ont gagné. Moscou a confirmé se réputation de partenaire clé de l'Inde dans le domaine de la coopération militaro-technique. Des pertes d'image qui paraissaient imminentes ont été évitées. Ceux qui disaient que Moscou aurait tenté de remettre à l'Inde un patouillard rouillé se sont tus. Tout comme ceux qui accusaient l'Inde de tricher dans le différend sur le prix et de vouloir obtenir presque gratuitement un porte-avions modernisé.

Le contrat Vikramaditya dépasse le cadre de sa simple livraison à la marine indienne. La Russie s'occupe également de la formation de l'équipage indien. En plus, elle créera une infrastructure du stationnement de Vikramaditya en océan Indien. Etant donné que le navire restera fonctionnel pendant 30 ans, on peut dire avec certitude que Vikramaditya est non seulement le présent, mais aussi le futur de la coopération russo-indienne dans le domaine militaro-technique.

L'Inde a actuellement de nombreuses tâches à affronter eu égard à la protection des voies commerciales maritimes, à la nécessité d'assurer l'accès aux ressources et à la défense des intérêts de la diaspora indienne en Asie. Dans ce contexte, l'accent de la construction militaire doit être porté sur la composante navale. En d'autres termes, l'objectif stratégique devient la transformation de l'Inde ayant reçu le porte-avions Vikramaditya en une grande puissance navale.

Le fait de s'être dotée d'un porte-avions de pointe place la marine indienne dans une catégorie de poids tout à fait différnete. Cela lui permettra de relever un défi ambitieux : contribuer à ce que l'Inde ait des avantages stratégiques dans la région asiatique. Telle est la dimension géopolitique du marché qui a permis de transformer Admiral Gorchkov en Vikramaditya.

MOSCOU, 26 novembre - RIA Novosti

Le porte-avions modernisé Vikramaditya (ex-Admiral Gorchkov), livré à la Marine indienne il y a dix jours, est parti pour l'Inde, a annoncé mardi à RIA Novosti un porte-parole du chantier naval chargé de moderniser le navire.

"Le navire a quitté Severodvinsk pour naviguer ensuite en mer Blanche où il fera le plein de carburant. Sa prochaine escale est la ville de Mourmansk", a indiqué l'interlocuteur de l'agence.

Outre l'équipage indien, près de 180 techniciens russes se trouvent à bord du navire. Leur mission est de surveiller le fonctionnement des mécanismes, de conseiller l'équipage et de parer d'éventuelles défaillances. Une fois arrivés en Inde, une partie de spécialistes russes regagneront la Russie tandis que les autres resteront pour assurer la maintenance du porte-avions prévue par garantie.

La Russie et l'Inde ont signé en 2004 un contrat prévoyant la modernisation du porte-avions soviétique Admiral Gorchkov pour la Marine indienne. La livraison de ce navire, rebaptisé par l'Inde Vikramaditya ("fort comme le Soleil"), a été ajournée plusieurs fois en raison de différends financiers. Un avenant au contrat a été signé en 2010. Aux termes de ce document, Moscou s'est engagé à livrer le porte-avions fin 2012. Les défaillances d'équipements fournis notamment par des pays membres de l'OTAN, constatées lors des essais en mer à l'automne 2012, ont amené les chantiers navals russes à reporter la livraison à 2013.

Nov. 18, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Indian Ministry of Defence; issued Nov. 16, 2013)

Marking a new high in India-Russia strategic cooperation, the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today commissioned the completely refurbished 44,500 tonne carrier Admiral Gorshkov into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya at an impressive ceremony at sub zero temperature in the wind-swept Sevmash Shipyard in the beautiful city of Severodvinsk in Russia. Snowflakes kept falling as the ceremony was held.

Speaking at the event, Shri Antony said INS Vikramaditya would significantly enhance the reach and capability of the Indian Navy. He said, the country has a rich maritime history and the Indian Ocean has guided our fate over the centuries.

“India’s economic development is dependent on the seas and safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests is central to our national policy. Aircraft carriers have been part of the Indian Navy’s force structure since our independence and have effectively served the country over the past five decades or so. The induction of ‘Vikramaditya’ with its integral MiG29K fighters and Kamov-31 helicopters, not only reinforces this central policy, but also adds a new dimension to our Navy’s operational capabilities. The meaning of ‘Vikramaditya’, which literally translates into “Strong as the Sun” is complemented by the Ship’s motto –“Strike Far, Strike Sure”,he said.

Reflecting the mood at the ceremony, Shri Antony said, ‘the event realizes the vision of capability-based transformation of the Indian Navy that was conceived more than a decade ago’. Calling it a Red Letter Day in the history of India- Russia cooperation, Shri Antony said this relationship remains a matter of the highest priority for both nations for our mutual benefit and as a factor of global peace and stability.

“The successful culmination of Project 11430 truly symbolizes the time-tested Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our two great nations. The Project has propelled the strategic partnership between our nations to a new level. The relationship between our two countries based on mutual trust and belief has withstood the test of time and the result is for the entire world to see in the form of ‘Vikramaditya’. As the ship sails into its home waters in the Indian Ocean Region, INS ‘Vikramaditya’ will be a befitting tribute to our long-standing relationship”, he said.

Describing the Project 11430 as a unique one, Shri Antony said, it was a challenging task for both the Russian and the Indian sides and congratulated the entire team for converting the ‘Dream Project’ into a reality. “The transformation of INS ‘Vikramaditya’ is an engineering marvel, which has tested the professionalism, capability and perseverance of the Indian Navy and the Russian industry, especially the Sevmash Shipyard”, he said and expressed confidence that all possible support would be extended by Russia to ensure that the ship serves India effectively and efficiently for the duration of its expected operational life cycle.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK 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.It will also help achieving our medium term goal of operating two aircraft carriers.

A large number of dignitaries including the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Mr Dmitry Rogozin and Defence Minister Mr Shoigu, the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi, the Indian Ambassador to Russia Shri Ajay Malhotra, the Defence Secretary Shri RK Mathur, the DG Acquisition Shri SB Agnihotri were present on the occasion.

Mr Rogozin said INS Vikramaditya symbolises the close friendship between India and Russia and expressed confidence that it will grow in the coming years.

About INS Vikramaditya

INS Vikramaditya, the floating airfield has an overall length of about 284 meters and a maximum beam of about 60 meters, stretching as much as three football fields put together. Standing about 20 storeys tall from keel to the highest point, the sheer sight of this 44,500 tonne mega structure of steel is awe inspiring. The ship has a total of 22 decks.

With over 1,600 personnel on board, INS Vikramaditya is literally a ‘Floating City’. With a capacity of over 8,000 tonnes of LSHSD, she is capable of operations up to a range of over 7,000 nautical miles or 13000 kms.

To enable this 44,500 tonnes floating steel city to cut through the choppy seas with speeds of up to 30 knots, she is powered by 08 new generation steam boilers generating a total output power of 180,000 SHP. These boilers power four enormous propellers, each greater in diameter than twice the height of an average male. Such a four propeller - four shaft configuration is another first in the Indian Navy.

The power generation capacity onboard is about 18 megawatts enough to cater to the lighting requirement of a mini city. An extensive revamp of sensors including fitment of Long range Air Surveillance Radars, Advanced Electronic Warfare Suite makes the ship capable of maintaining a surveillance bubble of over 500 kms around the ship.

The ship has the ability to carry over 30 aircraft comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters. The MiG 29K swing role fighter is the main offensive platform and provides a quantum jump for the Indian Navy’s maritime strike capability. These fourth generation air superiority fighters provide a significant fillip for the Indian Navy with a range of over 700 nm and an array of weapons including anti-ship missiles, Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missiles, guided bombs and rockets.

The ship is equipped with state of the art launch and recovery systems along with aids to enable smooth and efficient operation of ship borne aircraft. Major systems include the LUNA Landing system for MiGs, DAPS Landing system for Sea Harriers and Flight deck lighting systems.

The heart of the operational network that infuses life into the combat systems onboard the ship is the Computer aided Action Information Organisation (CAIO) system, LESORUB-E, with the capability to gather data from ship’s sensors and data links and to process, collate and assemble comprehensive tactical pictures. This state of the art system has been specifically designed keeping in mind the essential requirement on the carrier for fighter control and direction.

One of the most prominent equipment fitted on the super structure is the Resistor-E radar complex. Resistor-E is the automated system designed for providing air traffic control, approach/landing and short range navigation for ship borne aircraft. This complex along with its various sub-systems provides navigation and flight data to ship borne aircraft operating at extended ranges from the mother ship. The precision approach guidance system aids the fighters on approach to be directed down to a distance of 30 meters short of flight deck.

INS Vikramaditya also boasts of a very modern communication complex, CCS MK II, to meet her external communication requirement. Installation of Link II tactical data system allows her to be fully integrated with the Indian Navy’s network centric operations.

Nov. 18, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: RIA Novosti; published Nov. 16, 2013)

SEVERODVINSK, Russia --- Russia handed over to India its aircraft carrier renamed INS Vikramaditya on Saturday after a much-delayed refit and cost escalations that led to disagreements between Moscow and New Delhi.

The Indian Navy finally received its modified carrier – formerly known in Russian as Admiral Gorshkov − at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern town of Severodvinsk.

The ship was first scheduled to be delivered in 2008, but the deadline was repeatedly postponed over the period.

The official ceremony was attended Saturday by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Indian Defense Minister AK Antony, who arrived in Russia on Friday for a four-day visit.

The commissioning papers were signed by deputy director of Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport Igor Sevastyanov and the ship’s Indian captain Suraj Berry.

The Vikramaditya will be escorted to India by a group of warships to secure its safe sail to its base in base in the Arabian Sea through a classified route because it does not have any air defense systems on board, according to Indian website Zee News.

The warship is expected to reach India by February 2014, Russian officials said earlier.

Renamed after a legendary Indian king, the warship was originally as a Project 1143.4 or modified Kiev class aircraft carrier commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1987. It was decommissioned in 1996 after cuts to the Russian Navy fleet.

The refurbishments of the vessel lurched from one crisis to another since the $947 million deal was signed with Russia in 2004 for its purchase and refit.

The delays pushed up the cost of its refurbishing to $2.3 billion, sparking acrimony between Russia and India over the contract.

14.11.2013 Helen Chachaty - journal-aviation.com

Le ministre indien de la Défense A.K. Antony se rendra en Russie du 15 au 19 novembre, afin notamment d’assister à la cérémonie de réception du premier porte-avions indien, le Vikramaditya, qui aura lieu le 16 novembre à Severodvinsk.

L’accord final pour l’acquisition de l’ex-Amiral Gorskhov de la marine russe avait été signé en 2004. Il devait initialement être livré en 2008, mais le programme de modernisation du bâtiment et des dysfonctionnements techniques ont repoussé de quasiment 5 ans la date de réception initiale.

L’INS Vikramaditya bénéficie de l’architecture STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) et va pouvoir embarquer des MiG-29K, ainsi que des hélicoptères Ka-28 et 31, des Sea King, des ALH et des Chetak. Long de 284 mètres et possédant un déplacement de 44 500 tonnes en charge, le porte-avions embarque environ 1 600 personnels.

22 septembre 2013, Portail des Sous-Marins

La Russie va remettre le 15 novembre à l’Inde le porte-avions Admiral Gorchkov, un bâtiment rénové de l’époque soviétique dont la livraison avait été repoussée à plusieurs reprises, a annoncé samedi le vice-Premier ministre russe Dmitri Rogozine.

Référence : 7 sur 7 (Belgique)

September 4, 2013 Vladimir Radyuhin - thehindu.com

Aircraft carrier is now on sea trials and expected to return to Sevmash Shipyard

INS Vikramaditya will be handed over to the Indian Navy on November 15 at a formal ceremony in the Russian northern seaport of Severodvinsk on the White Sea.

The delivery date was confirmed at talks Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur held in Moscow on Monday, according to informed sources.

A high-level Indian defence delegation paid a one-day visit to Moscow to prepare an annual session of the Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation that will meet in Russia next month under the chair of the two Defence Ministers.

The upgraded and retrofitted aircraft carrier is now completing sea trials and is expected to return to the Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk in the next few weeks.

The ship was to be delivered last December, but failed the sea trials after its boilers and some other systems malfunctioned. This time, all systems performed flawlessly, including daytime and night takeoff and landings by MiG-29K deck fighter planes, the sources said.

The sides were tight-lipped on the issue of India acquiring a second nuclear submarine from Russia, but the sources confirmed that Moscow was willing to lease another Akula class submarine if India paid for completing its construction. The submarine has been lying half-built at the Amur Shipyard in the Russian Far East since it was mothballed in the 1990s for lack of funds.

On the recent accident in which INS Sindhurakshak sank after rocked by explosions, the Russian side agreed to provide expert assistance for raising the submarine and carrying out its technical inspection.

Russia will also beef up its team of 100 engineers, now deployed in Vishakhapatnam in order to speed up midterm repairs to INS Sindhudhvaj and INS Sindhushashtra. The Russian side also offered to have two more Indian Navy Kilo class submarines undergo midterm repairs in Russia, the sources said.

In reviewing progress of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, the sides noted with satisfaction the completion of preliminary design phase earlier this year. It is hoped that a contract for detailed design could be signed before the end of the year if the sides sort out the issue of costs.

30.10.2012 by Livefist

1 mars 2012 par Daniel Favre – INFO-AVIATION

Les quatre premiers chasseurs embarqués MiG-29/KUB seront livrés aux forces navales russes en 2013, a annoncé le 29 février un porte-parole du ministère russe de la Défense.

« La Marine russe recevra les quatre premiers avions MiG-29KUB dès 2013. Tous les chasseurs embarqués de ce type, dont le nombre est spécifié dans le contrat signé entre le ministère de la Défense et le consortium MiG, seront mis à la disposition de la  Flotte du Nord d’ici 2015″, a indiqué le porte-parole.

Le porte-avions russe Admiral Kouznetsov.

 

Selon lui, six mois avant la livraison des chasseurs, les pilotes de l’Aviation navale russe suivront un entraînement approprié.

 

Le ministère de la Défense et le groupe de construction aéronautique MiG ont signé un contrat prévoyant la livraison de 20 chasseurs embarqués MiG-29K et quatre MiG-29KUB. Ces appareils équiperont le croiseur porte-avions Admiral Kouznetsov, rattaché à la Flotte du Nord.

 

Il s’agit d’appareils multi-rôles, destinés à assurer la maîtrise aérienne et à remplir différentes missions de combat de jour comme de nuit, dans toutes les conditions météorologiques.

 

Un lot de chasseurs MiG-29K et MiG-29KUB a été livré à l’Inde à la fin de 2011 pour le porte-avions indien Vikramaditya.