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no_name

Colonel
Jeff Head said:
I am looking for some pictures of the vessel from the aft that would show the nature of what has not been completed back there in more detail.
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Found these two:

15k3eq.jpg


2n1crro.jpg


In second pic you can clearly see that the left side where the angled deck extends out is not completed. There are what looks like structure for connection and the outer hull skin is not covering that part of the vessel, stopping at some distance from the bow.

Have a feeling that this may not be the last launch. Don't think they are going to complete the rest of her without sending her back again. My view is that she is all but empty on the inside.
 
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timepass

timepass

Brigadier
I don't understand what warrants them to launch 50% complete ship.

To gain any political grounds????

OR

Are we are into another Kolkata class scenario.
 
MwRYum

MwRYum

Major
timepass said:
I don't understand what warrants them to launch 50% complete ship.

To gain any political grounds????

OR

Are we are into another Kolkata class scenario.
Click to expand...

Mostly a political one I afraid, India doesn't want others to steal the thunder on the affair of conventional carriers, not even by their Japanese allies.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
no_name said:
2n1crro.jpg


In second pic you can clearly see that the left side where the angled deck extends out is not completed. There are what looks like structure for connection and the outer hull skin is not covering that part of the vessel, stopping at some distance from the bow.

Have a feeling that this may not be the last launch. Don't think they are going to complete the rest of her without sending her back again. My view is that she is all but empty on the inside.
Click to expand...
I agree 100% about the angled deck and will use that pic on my site.

I think there is a lot done on the inside of the portion we can see. A friend went there for the launch and boarded the carrier and confirmed internal passageways and compartments in that area.

But it will clearly require a lot of work to finish the aft portion, the island, and, as you say, to add the angled deck. They could do all of that without going back into dock depending on how much they completed underneath.

We will just have to see.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
timepass said:
I don't understand what warrants them to launch 50% complete ship.

To gain any political grounds????

OR

Are we are into another Kolkata class scenario.
Click to expand...
Well, I would say that structurally it is significantly more than 50% complete.

But what they gain is the pride and support of their own voters...most of whom do not study or know naval matters as we do...and they can see a large vessel in the water with promises of two more years til she goes to sea.
 
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A

Apong

New Member
as per some old reports the ship had to be lunched from the dry dock because the dry dock cannot handle more that a specific tonnage, moreover this launch was a planned pontoon assisted launch. The previous launch was unfortunate because vital equipment like the ship gear box was not read and the shipyard wanted the dry dock space for other purpose and that was a low profile event. Note that it is also the limit capacity of Cochin Shipyard to lunch a ship in terms of tonnage, future larger versions would require a new dry dock facility.

The Island of the ship
DSC01839-721213.jpg
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
cn_habs said:
Doesn't that island look both narrow and skinny for a conventional aircraft carrier? It looks as space efficient the Nimitz' island. :confused:
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When you look at how it is envisioned on the Vikrant, while perhjhaps not quite as efficient a footprint as the Nimitz or Ford islands, it is clearly smaller than a lot of the other carriers coming out these days like the Japanese Izumo, the Australian Canberras, etc.


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In addition, the Indian Navy has already formed up and commissioned its first Mig-29K aircraft squadron specirfically for the Vikramaditya which they will receive late this fall.

All of the pilots have already been training extensively and will quickly go through qualifications on the Vikramaditya once she arrives in India late this year. They exepect to commission her in the first half of 2014 and have her operational with these aircraft soon thereafter.

Sixteen Mig-29Ks will be a potent force.

Here's an article on it:

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vikram-07x.jpg

vikram-06x.jpg

vikram-08.jpg

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Indian MIlitary Fans said:
The defence minister of India formally commissioned Indian Navy’s first ever MiG-29 K squadron at INS Hansa, Goa on Saturday. The unit currently known as IFTU, Intensive Flying and Trials Unit, was inducted into the Navy on 19th February 2010. Having successfully completed all tasks and trials assigned and established its role worthiness, the MIG-29K squadron will now be called INAS 303 Black Panthers. The MiG-29 K’s are destined to operate from INS Vikramaditya, which is currently undergoing refurbishment in Russia.

[In addition, the link provided by FORBIN goes on futther...]

Antony said India has to maintain an edge over its adversaries in defence preparedness through the acquisition of new technology and better training of the personnel, given the fact that the security scenario in the region is changing at a rapid pace. Antony said he was confident that the Squadron will make a significant contribution in enhancing peace and stability in our area of operations.

The MiG 29K aircraft is a state of the art, all weather, carrier based, air dominance fighter specially built for the Indian Navy. The aircraft has a maximum speed over twice the speed of sound (about 2000 kmph), can pull up to 8 times the force of gravity, can climb to an altitude of over 65000 feet. Armed with an arsenal of some of the most sophisticated weapons in the world it is fully equipped to dominate by engaging targets in air, at sea or on land. Latest avionics, with data link capabilities coupled with its range of armament will enable true power projection. With its air- to- air refueling capability its ranges are also extended to perform true power projection and air space dominance roles.

INAS 303 is commanded by Capt AD Theophilus, an accomplished and experienced Sea Harrier pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor.

Sixteen of these potent aircraft will form the main combat power of the soon to be inducted aircraft carrier, Vikramaditya. Since its induction, the aircraft have flown over 2500 hrs and have successfully concluded armament trials of the entire range of arsenal comprising air to surface missiles, air to air missiles, bombs, rockets and guns. After proving in trials the aircraft have also participated in important theatre level exercises with the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. Having successfully completed all tasks and trials assigned and established its combat potential, the MiG-29K squadron has now been commissioned into front line service to form the sword arm of the Indian Navy. In the tradition of naming its fighter squadrons in the 300 series, the MiG- 29K squadron, is christened INAS 303 and is being popularly referred to as the ‘Black Panthers’.
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tphuang

tphuang

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
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it seems not uncommon for Indian shipyard to launch ship without much of the superstructures completed. Building first AC is a long and difficult process. I wouldn't be surprised if it does not go on sea trial for longer than what Jeff stated. Considering that INS Kolkota was launched in 2006 and still has yet to be commissioned, we could be looking for a similar time line here.
 
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