INS Vikramaditya delivery delayed

The delivery of the INS Vikramaditya, formerly known as the Gorshkov, is set to be delayed, beyond its scheduled delivery date of December.

While Indian Navy sources denied the aircraft carrier, now undergoing trials after an extensive refit in Russia, had broken down after news reports emerged that ‘seven out of eight’ of the boilers were out of commission due to insulation issues, they also admitted there to be issues with the boilers, which would require work.

The aircraft carrier is still steaming, after more than 90 days of sea trials, after the refit and 18 years of having been in dock, said the sources, calling the performance ‘commendable’. “The carrier is still carrying out aviation trials,” they said, adding that over 40 sorties had been conducted from the vessel. The carrier developed problems at the ‘higher end of the power regime’, when the engine output was taken to full power.

Reports in the Russian media had indicated that the Indian insistence on the use of firebrick in place of asbestos had resulted in ‘crumbling’ of the insulation of the boilers. Indian Navy sources clarified that the use of asbestos in ships was banned internationally, and that the said ‘Indian insistence’ was merely a reiteration of international norms stipulated in the contract.

Calling the report of the boilers being shut down an exaggeration, the sources said no repair work would require any removal of the boilers from the vessel or cutting of the hull. The boilers would be repaired ‘in situ’.

Importantly, the Indian Navy said, “As of now, the Russian government has not indicated any delays to us and we are hopeful that the delivery will be completed within the stipulated contract period.”

While privately, Indian Navy officials admit that the December-handover now seems unlikely, they also clarify that the required repairs should not ordinarily take more than a month or so. While the contract itself allows leeway for slippage of two to three months, which officials consider unsurprising in this case, they also point out out that any delay beyond the period permitted by the contract could invoke the financial penalties mentioned in the contract.