I myself am no expert in this matter, but I suspect those speculating about the possibility of converting the ship to nuclear propulsion, gas turbines etc. are not understanding the complexity of such a task.

To completely alter the ship’s internal propulsion would be a complex task in terms of both design and application. What amount of horsepower and other parameters would be required with the new equipment for the same level of ship performance? What would be the layout? How to design the new gearboxes, rudders, shafting etc for the reactors/gas turbines? How to make it all fit in space which was designed and built specifically to accomodate the old system? What about fuel flow and exhaust piping?

As it is the Russian shipbuilding enterprise had a hard time just restoring the ship given it was originally built in Ukraine and they had to find new suppliers for key components including propulsion. Converting it to a flattop was an even more difficult task since they were completely altering the ship’s structure. How many more years and how much more money would be required for redesigning and replacing the entire propulsion system?

What a farce.This ship is now unlikely to travel at 30 knots in her lifetime.Huge limitation.Some sources are saying they have to cut open the ship again to replace the affected boilers.One of the poorest decision making by the IN in recent times.

Indeed. Our MoD, especially since the UPA came to power, are notorious for delaying or botching key strategic decisions. There were so many missed opportunities in this matter alone in the past decade. We could have bought the Varyag in 1997 before it was sold for scrap to China. We could have bought and refurbished the Invincible class vessels when they were retired. We could have lobbied for one of the CVFs when there was talk of axing them.

Heck, we could have started building our own carrier in 1997 instead of negotiating for the Gorshkov and it would be ready by now!:mad:

Holy Crap!!:eek:
Are VVS serious about this!?

http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2012/9/17/1211/

Bringing back the Mig-25MR jets does not come as a smart move to me..

Why don’t they continue with the reported new Recon-pod Tender, which can be used by Su-24(MR)M2, Su-34 and possible most new Flankers as well?

Can’t be helped, I guess. The RuAF has no suitable UAVs and sometimes you need more than satellite reconnaisance.

your referring to old MIG-29M. New MIG-29M is identical with MIG-29K. and has 6500kg. see page 21. infact with new engines ground level speed is now 1500km/h for MIG-29M. All 3 fighters have 6500kg external payload. if u ignore the typo.

http://www.roe.ru/cataloque/air_craft/aircraft_20-24.pdf

Thanks.

Given these aircraft will be serving for the next 20-30 years the Indian Navy should have ordered the 30 additional MiG-29Ks with the MiG-35 avionics suite. Ah, but the wisdom of our MoD…:rolleyes:

Given that over a thousand Indian crewmen were stationed on the Vikramaditya but not to operate it but just watch and learn from their Russian counterparts I was afraid of something like this.

http://lenta.ru/news/2012/06/21/vikramaditja/

Translation:

Russians complained of Indian officers with “Vikramaditya”

Indian Navy officers aboard the aircraft carrier “Vikramaditya” (formerly “Admiral Gorshkov”) passing sea trials in the White Sea, “interfere with the work of Russian sailors and confused at their feet.” This was to “Interfax” on Thursday, June 21, said a source in the shipbuilding industry.

Well, it’s not much of an issue. But I get a slight smile at the idea of Russian crew men getting annoyed by Indian sailors following them around while they’re trying to work to learn and maybe get the chance to handle the equipment themselves. Reminds me of my days as an intern.:D

No towing needed, those “sources” are making things up.
http://www.armstass.su/?page=article&aid=110508&cid=24

3 boilers have problems, but ship can move itself.

http://lenta.ru/news/2012/09/17/gorshkov/

Special commision being formed to asses and fix the issue.

Good to know. But the problem of repairing the boilers or their insulation remains. I wouldn’t want the ship to enter service in a semi-crippled state, restricted to low speed, like the Charles De Gaulle was for years due to propeller and reactor problems.

More on the boiler problem.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3906835.ece

Seven out of the aircraft carrier’s eight steam boilers broke down when they were run at maximum power to enable the ship develop its top rated speed of 30 knots, an unnamed official of the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport told the Kommersant daily.

The official explained that the firebrick insulation of the boilers crumbled under impact of high temperatures. He said the Indian side had objected to the use of “traditional” asbestos insulation because of its health hazards.

Another defence industry source confirmed to the Izvestia daily that the boilers shut down after overheating due to faulty ceramic insulation.

The boilers will have to be removed from the Vikramaditya for inspection through cuts to be made in the ship’s hull. Replacing the boilers will cost Russian shipbuilders more than one billion roubles (over $30 million), the sources said.

But first the stricken vessel must be brought back from the Barents Sea, where it was undergoing 120-day pre-delivery trials, to the Sevmash shipyard. If the boilers cannot be restarted Vikramaditya will have to be tugged to port.

Repairs can only start next spring because of harsh winter conditions in the Arctic seaport of Severodvinsk, where the ship has been retrofitted.

The propulsion system failure will push back the ship’s delivery from December this year to October next year “at the earliest,” according to Russian sources.[/B]

The original Russian article:
http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2024130

Quoted from google translation:

“When the experts have reached the power plant, it became clear that the brickwork around the boilers simply fell apart, unable to withstand the temperature, – stated the source” b. “- The condition itself boilers can be judged only after the carrier gets to the” Sevmash “, but fear that they will have to change, without foundation. “

December 4 – Day of the Navy of India – Vikramaditya aircraft carrier was to be transferred to the customer. Earlier deadlines repeatedly shifted (see the background). Now there is no doubt that the timing of re-move. Even if steam boilers do not have to change to the new needs and they will only repair specialists “Sevmash” will have to saw the cruiser compartment to remove them and the manufacturers – Baltic Plant argue sides “b” in the industry. “If the boilers can not be repaired, you have to create them again, and then to experience first on the stand, then install again and finally conduct sea trials,” – says one of them. The source said the “Y” in the “Rosoboronexport”, the Indian Ministry of Defence has already aware of the incident. “According to preliminary information, deadline postponed no earlier than October 2013,” – he added, “b”, adding that the readiness of the vessel to the other parameters is more than 95%.

“The situation is certainly unpleasant. Against the background of the entire cycle of the modernization of” Admiral Gorshkov “, which lasts for so many years, one year is not as dramatic, – said the deputy director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, Konstantin Makiyenko.”

However, the Russian experts, there are other problems. With one working boiler cruiser can not move, so if part of the seven damaged boiler does not work somehow, it will come to the fore the problem of transportation. The source said the “Y”, most likely the finishing of the damaged boiler to working condition will be made directly to the ship, and on arrival at the “Sevmash” experts take their comprehensive evaluation, which ultimately will determine their fate. In addition, according to the “Y”, this week should arrive in Severodvinsk delegation “Baltic Plant” and ICBC.

Some additional information from Bharat Rakshak: Apparently the ninth boiler produced by the Baltic plant which was used as a land-based testbench by Sevmash used the traditional asbestos insulation; hence there were no problems. This would explain the unexpected failure of nearly all the production boilers during sea tests.

Things look bad no matter how you look at it. Summing up the problem:
1) After the flight trials, if efforts to restart the boilers at sea fail, the ship will have to be towed back to Sevmash.
2) Once there, the final course of action will be decided by experts, but the prevailing opinion seems to be that it will be necessary to cut out the boilers, which will involve cutting deep into the ship through several decks, dismantling wiring and pipework etc.
3) If the boilers can be salvaged, it will still be necessary to open them up and replace the insulation, which will take a fair bit of time. If they cannot be salvaged, a new set of boilers will have to be built, tested and installed, which will take much longer and may cost up to $30 million.
4) Lastly after reinstalling the new/repaired boilers the decks will have to be rewelded and piping/wiring reassembled, then a new series of propulsion trials will be needed to certify the ship.

All in all, October 2013 looks a little optimistic. Let’s hope there isn’t another price escalation accompanying the delay.:(

Work Continues on U.S. Navy Mobile Landing Platform

Looks interesting. Would this mobile dock be capable of repair works or would it be just for refuelling?