When is the Virkant going to sea?
I mean she was finally actually launched (or as they called it, undocked) in 2015.
she should be preparing for builders trials soon.
Anyone know?
I know they plan to try and hand her over to the Navy by 2018...but that should mean that builders trials will start this year. I am wondering when?
There are some contradictory statements on this from India lately.
The latest info is that the INS Vikrant will apparently not enter "true" service with installed aviation facilities (including arresting gear) and sensors and weapons in 2023, but the shipyard will try to "deliver" the INS Vikrant to the navy by 2018 however it will lack all of those vital systems. I have no idea why on earth the Indian Navy would even bother with that though, considering accepting a carrier without aviation facilities, without sensors and without weapons is utterly stupid.
And even then, I'm not sure if "delivering to the Navy" means delivering it for sea trials or commissioning it -- though even if it were only for sea trials, trialling the ship without its sensors, weapons and without its aviation facilities is also rather silly.
Either way, the Indian Navy almost definitely won't be receiving INS Vikrant in a complete fashion by next year, and if they do then I will be quite impressed.