NEW DELHI: A new era has dawned in India's naval combat capabilities. Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya was commissioned into the Indian Navy at a Russian shipyard on Saturday, ending a five-year delay to the $2.33 billion project.
The 44,570-tonne carrier, which will operate supersonic MiG-29K fighters from its deck, is the largest-ever warship to be inducted by India, as also the most expensive single military platform ever bought. India's solitary carrier till now, the 55-year-old INS Viraat, will now be a poor second at 28,000-tonne.
Earlier called Admiral Gorshkov, INS Vikramaditya was commissioned at the Sevmash Shipyard in northern Arctic at a ceremony attended by defence minister A K Antony, Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and senior officials of the two countries.
The warship, with its array of fighters, helicopters and other weapon systems, will go a long way in bolstering the Navy's blue-water capabilities, and is already being described as "a game-changer" in the region.
Antony said INS Vikramaditya would significantly enhance the Navy's reach and capability, and pointed out that aircraft carriers have been part of the Indian naval force structure for decades. "The induction of Vikramaditya, with its integral MiG-29K fighters and Kamov-31 helicopters, not only reinforces this central policy but also adds a new dimension to our Navy's operational capabilities," he said.
