Gorshkov-Vikramaditya: Aerial Complement

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/ins-vikramaditya-may-hit-delay-cost-increases-03283/

Many of Gorshkov’s key modifications are aircraft-related, including the new arrester gear and ski jump. New boilers and wiring are the other major components. The timelines and cost figures for delivery of the ship do not include the aircraft, however, which are bought separately.

The original carrier’s complement was 12 Yak-38 Forger V/STOL fighters, 12 Ka-28 helicopters, and 2 Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters.

The removal of the Gorshkov’s forward missiles, addition of the ski ramp, and other modifications will improve the ship’s air complement somewhat.

The nature of its original design, however, means that INS Vikramaditya will still fall short of comparably-sized western counterparts like the 43,000t FNS Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, with its 40-plane complement that leans heavily to fighter jets.

For instance, the Gorshkov would be large enough to operate full naval AWACS aircraft, but it lacks a launch catapult. If rumors prove true and India does indeed buy E-2C+/E-2D Hawkeyes, therefore, they would probably operate from shore.

The carrier’s AEW complement, if any, is almost certain to use India’s Ka-31 helicopters.

Carriage ranges given for the refitted Vikramaditya seem to average 12-24 fighters and/or 4-16 of the compact Ka-28/31 helicopters; diagrams seem to suggest total stowage space for a “footprint” of no more than 15-16 MiG-29Ks, with each Kamov helicopter sporting a comparative footprint of about 0.4, and about 5-8 open footprint spots on deck.

Vikramaditya’s fighters will also be Russian. A related $740 million contract for 16 MiG-29K (12 MiG-29K, 4 two-seat MiG-29KUB) aircraft plus training and maintenance was confirmed on Dec 22/04, and the contract’s option for another 29 planes, rumored to be worth $1.2 billion, will bring India’s planned MiG-29K fleet to 45.

The MiGs would be operated in STOBAR (Short Take-Off via the ski ramp, But Assisted Recovery via arresting wires) mode, and the design was reportedly selected over the larger and more-capable SU-33 naval fighter because India also hopes to operate them from smaller “Project-71 Air Defence Ship” indigenous carriers.

Vikramadirya will reportedly be delivered with a radar, but no aerial defenses. A last-ditch CIWS gun system, which might be the Russian SA-N-11 Kashtan-M combination gun/ short range missile system, is reportedly scheduled as a refit around 2017.