INS Vikramaditya Reaches Operational Milestone with 11 Years of Commission, Embodying its Motto, "Strike Far, Strike Sure"

INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy's formidable aircraft carrier, celebrates 11 years of dedicated service to the nation today. Commissioned on November 16, 2013, this 45,400-tonne behemoth has become a symbol of India's maritime power, truly embodying its motto, "Strike Far, Strike Sure."

Originally acquired from Russia and extensively modernized, INS Vikramaditya serves as a floating airbase, significantly bolstering India's ability to project power and secure its vast maritime interests. As the flagship of the Indian Navy, it has played a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation's sea lanes and demonstrating its commitment to regional stability.

Designed for a 25-year lifespan, INS Vikramaditya is now approaching the halfway mark of its operational life. The Indian Navy has demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining the carrier's combat readiness through regular maintenance and upgrades. This includes a major refit in 2021-2022, ensuring its continued effectiveness in the face of evolving naval warfare technologies.

INS Vikramaditya's 11-year journey has been marked by significant achievements:

• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): The carrier has been a key player in HADR missions, providing aid and support during natural disasters and emergencies, upholding the Navy's motto of "service before self."
• Operational Deployments: INS Vikramaditya has actively participated in numerous maritime exercises with partner nations, including Malabar, Varuna, and TROPEX, showcasing its strategic importance in collaborative efforts to ensure regional security.
• Force Projection: The carrier's presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond has served as a powerful deterrent, underscoring India's naval capabilities and resolve to protect its interests.

As INS Vikramaditya enters the second half of its operational life, it remains a potent symbol of India's maritime ambitions. The carrier stands ready to defend the nation's frontiers and "strike with precision" whenever called upon, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of India's naval power.

 

[R. Singh]

Buy F-35B along with Rafale-M for our two carriers to remain leader in AC operations ! Arm our warships with DEW/ laser dome and rail gun mount !

 

[swatkats_razor]

11 years of "service" or 'servicing". Most of last 11 years this soviet junk has spent under on e or the other overhaul at shipyards the world over.

 

[Mayank Jadav]

11 years of "service" or 'servicing". Most of last 11 years this soviet junk has spent under on e or the other overhaul at shipyards the world over.

We have another carrier as well, INS Vikrant. It will become fully capable once the Rafale M is inducted into the Indian Navy.

 

[swatkats_razor]

We have another carrier as well, INS Vikrant. It will become fully capable once the Rafale M is inducted into the Indian Navy.

I know. I have much more hope for the INS Vikrant. But howmuchever we try to sugarcoat acquisition of INS Vikramaditya, it has been a bad investment and has had "Don't touch me" written all over it from the very beginning.
It was naive of our strategic planners to have invested billions into an old abandoned platform.

 

[Anant]

11 years already done. I still remember the day she was commissioned. Sheesh, I am also getting old...

Anyways, Vikramaditya was gauged to have about 35 years of life left when she was commissioned. Assuming a more rational number of 30 (given we do not want to operate her to the extent we operated Vikrant between 1993 and 1996 and Viraat between 2014 and 2017), we need to start work on IAC-III, which will replace Vikramaditya, asap.

Get IAC-II started, and then, we can hopefully start construction of IAC-III around 2031, which would allow that ship to enter service just as Vikramaditya bows out.

 

[Anant]

11 years of "service" or 'servicing". Most of last 11 years this soviet junk has spent under on e or the other overhaul at shipyards the world over.

Not quite. Vikramaditya's refits were from August to November 2015 (routine maintenance), May to October 2018 (again routine maintenance), and December 2020 to July 2022 (first major refit). That adds up to about 27 months, or 2.25 years. If you really want to factor in post-refit trials, that number goes up to about 34 months.

27 to 34 months of refit in 11 years of service is pretty reasonable by international standards. Ideally, both those numbers could have been 3 months lesser, but the electrical fire near the end of the first major refit put her back in for 10 weeks.

Of course, she is due to enter routine maintenance again early next year, and that will be a 3-5 month affair, and get the ship ready to serve through 2028.

 

[SK]

It's a good indication that Indian-Govt & Navy should consider to develop IAC-2 & IAC-3 as CATOBAR versions of INS-Vikrant.

IAC-3 will replace the ageing INS Vikramaditya & CATOBAR system will allow IN to operated carrier-based AWAC Aircraft.

This can also create the technical know-how within the Indian Shipbuilding industry to convert INS Vikrant into a CATOBAR Carrier during one of It's Upgrades.

 

[swatkats_razor]

27 to 34 months of refit in 11 years of service is pretty reasonable by international standards.

Thank you. I dont have stats at hand to compare. Do you have figures on the time spent in the docks for a simiilarly specced aircraft carrier (probably of British or Russian origin) to compare?

I know, this is a unyieldy question to seek, as often such data-points are not readily available in the public domain.