R 23 Vikramaditya (ex Gorshkov) class CV

Displacement: 44570 tons (full load)
Dimensions: overall length 273 m ; beam 32.7 m; draught 9.5 m
Aviation: approx 16 MiG-29K; 4-6  Ka-27/28 ASW helos; 1-2  Ka-31AEW helos
Armament: unknown (all current Gorshkov weapons systems to be removed)
Propulsion: shafts; 4 boilers/steam turbines; 100000shp; 30kts
Description: The fourth project 1143 aircraft carrying cruiser was originally commissioned Baku in 1987. Renamed Admiral Gorshkov after the collapse of the Soviet Union, she lost here Yak-38 airgroup when the aircraft were withdrawn in 1992. She served on as a helicopter carrier until a boiler room explosion laid her up in 1994. After repairs the vessel was returned to service but finally withdrawn in 1996, outlasting her sister vessels by three years. A plan for the Gorshkov to be transferred to India has been an on again-off again proposition since 1994 but the deal was not finally sealed until January 2004.

The contract will see the Gorshkov rebuilt into a full deck carrier capable of operating an airgroup of MiG-29K fighter aircraft. All the carriers weapons currently clustered on the foredeck will be removed and ski jump constructed. Operations will be of the Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) manner as used on the Russian Navy's Kuznetsov. The carrier work is to be completed by 2009 the Indian Navy should take delivery of 16 MiG-29Ks by 2008. The vessel will be christened INS Vikramaditya.

The project has been much-delayed due to shipyard problems. Originally scheduled for delivery to India in 2008, the handover will now not happen until 2012 at the soonest. In November 2010, work stopped again due to changes requested to the final equipment fit and a disagreement as to what the shipyard would be responsible for during sea trials.