Vikramaditya (Building)

Operations and defensive systems are planned to be a mix of western, Russian, and indeginous Indian systems, like a number of other Indian naval vessels.

The Vikramaditya will replace the aging INS Viraat aircraft carrier in 2012, after trials and commissioning. Also in 2012, the Vikramaditya will be joined by the INS Virkant, currently under construction and due to be the first indigenously designed and built Indian aircraft carrier.

Russia delivered the first four MiG-29K aircraft - two single seat fighters and two twin seat trainers - under contract to India in February 2009 and a batch of Indian Navy pilots started six months training on the aircraft in Russia. The MiG-29Ks were certified by Russian pilots taking off from the Russian carrier, Kuznetsov. The four aircraft were test flown from the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov by Russian pilots on September 28-29, 2009.

A second lot of four MiG-29K and one MiG29KUBs were delivered to India in May 2011 along with a simulator and other technical equipment. On August 2, 2011, CEO of MiG corporation Sergei Korotkov told Interfax news agency that a total of 11 MiG-29Ks had been delivered to India so far.

"From the first contract for 16 jets which included 12 single seater MiG-29K and two double seater trainer-cum -fighter MiG-29KUB, we have already delivered 11 fighters, including 9 single seater and 2 double seater jets to the Indian Navy," CEO of MiG, Sergei Korotkov, said.

"An agreement on supplying an additional set of MiG-29K fighter jets has been signed, the start of supplies is scheduled for 2012," Mikhail Pogosyan said.

In 2010, because of cost overruns construction was stopped until a new deal was reached totaling 2.3 billion for the carrier and initial airwing between Russia and India. The carrier underwent mooring trials in March 2011, and is slated for first sea trails in October 2011, and delivery to India in late 2012.