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India’s Vikramaditya aircraft carrier begins to be tested in White Sea

On November 15 the aircraft carrier is to be handed over to the Indian side and start moving to base, Budnichenko said

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

ST. PETERSBURG, July 6 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s Sevmash shipyards in Severodvinsk, affiliated with the United Shipbuilding Corporation, in cooperation with Russian and Indian naval forces has begun a series of tests of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier (formerly The Admiral Gorshkov), upgraded for the Indian Navy, Sevmash General Director Mikhail Budnichenko told the media on Friday.

“In the White Sea we shall test the ship’s sea worthiness and maneuverability and make some test flights, which will take 25 days,” he said.

“Then, in the Barents Sea will shall be testing the aviation technologies and the ship’ systems in all types of situations. The results are to be presented to the Indian side on October 15,” he said. By that date the ship is to be back to Sevmash.

Customs formalities will take one month to complete.

On November 15 the aircraft carrier is to be handed over to the Indian side and start moving to base, Budnichenko said. A Russian team will take the ship to its final destination. Then the Indian crew will take over. The voyage may last about six weeks. It is up to the Indian side to decide whether the route will lie through the Suez Canal or around the world.

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