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Soviet Aircraft Carrier Admiral Gorshkov




In the collapse of the Soviet Union , the city of Baku (which the ship was named after) became part of independent Azerbaijan , and afterwards the ship was renamed ''Admiral Gorshkov'', in honour of Sergey Gorshkov commander in chief of the Soviet Navy during the Cold War . In 1994 , following a boiler room explosion, the ship was docked for a year of repairs. Although she returned to service in 1995 , she was finally withdrawn in 1996 and offered for sale.


SOLD TO INDIA

After years of negotiations, on January 20 , 2004 , Russia and India signed a deal to buy aircraft-carrier ''Admiral Gorshkov'', along with 12 single-seat MiG-29K 'Fulcrum' and 4 dual-seat MiG-29KUB, as well as facilities and procedures for training of pilots and technical staff, delivery of simulators, spare parts, and establishment maintenance on Indian Navy facilities. India will spend approximately US$800 million to upgrade and refit the ship. Additional, US$700 million will cost to buy 16 MiG-29K, 6 Kamov Ka-31 'Helix' attack and reconnaissance anti-submarine helicopters, torpedo tubes, missile systems, and artillery units. Upgrade plans involve stripping all the weaponry from the ship's foredeck to make way for a Short Take-Off But Assisted Recovery configuration, with a 14.3 degree ski-jump on the bow and three arrestor wires on the angled deck, allowing her to operate the MiG-29K 'Fulcrum' and Sea Harrier aircraft.

It is estimated that the ship will enter service in the Indian Navy in 2008 as INS ''Vikramaditya'' .


GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS (RUSSIAN SERVICE)

  • Builder: Chernomorski yard, Nikolayev

  • Power Plant: 4 shaft geared steam turbines, 140,000 hp

  • Length: 273,1 m overall

  • Beam: 31.0 m

  • Draft: 8.2 m

  • Displacement: 42,000 tons full load

  • Speed: 32 knots

  • Endurance: 13500 miles at 18 kt

  • Armament: 4 x SN12 SSM (24 missiles), 2 x SAN3 SAM (72 missiles), 2 x SAN4 SAM, (40 missiles), 4 76mm guns (2x2), 8 x 30mm gatling guns, 10 x 533mm torpedo tubes, 1 x SUW ASW mortar

  • Aircraft: 32

  • --- 12 Yak-38M - VTOL combat aircraft

  • --- 20 Helicopters



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