INS Vikramaditya

Also known as R33

2008 modified Kyiv-class aircraft carrier

Key facts

Name: Admiral Gorshkov
Namesake: Sergey Gorshkov
Builder: Chernomorskiy Yard , Nikolayev
Laid down: 17 February 1978
Launched: 1 April 1982
Commissioned: 11 December 1987
Fate: Sold to the Indian Navy on 20 January 2004
Operator: Indian Navy
Ordered: 20 January 2004
Cost: $2.35 billion (refurbishment) $10-11 billion (including all aircraft and systems)
Completed: 19 April 2012
In service: 14 June 2014
Identification

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Article

INS Vikramaditya (lit. 'Valour Comparable to the Sun') is a conventionally powered STOBAR aircraft carrier currently serving as the flagship of the Indian Navy. It is a modified Kiev class aircraft cruiser purchased from Russia and entered into service in 2013.

Originally built as Baku and commissioned in 1987, the carrier served with the Soviet Navy and later with the Russian Navy (as Admiral Gorshkov) before being decommissioned in 1996. After years of negotiations, the carrier was purchased by India on 20 January 2004. The transformed ship completed her sea trials in July 2013 and first naval aviation trials in September 2013.