INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier rebuilt from the former Admiral Gorshkov and adapted for Indian Navy fixed-wing carrier aviation. The conversion changed the ship from a Soviet aircraft-carrying cruiser into a STOBAR carrier centered on a ski-jump, arrested recovery, and a MiG-29K air wing.
Vikramaditya gives India a mobile fighter base for fleet air defense, maritime strike, and presence missions in the Indian Ocean. Its MiG-29K operations provide reach beyond shore-based aircraft, while helicopters add anti-submarine, airborne early-warning, and utility functions. The STOBAR layout is simpler than catapult launch but limits launch weight and the range of fixed-wing support aircraft.
The carrier matters strategically because it preserved Indian fixed-wing carrier experience before INS Vikrant entered service. It also created a training, maintenance, and deck-operations base for Indian naval aviation. Its long-term value depends on aircraft availability, refit cycles, escort integration, and how the Navy balances it with newer indigenous carrier capacity.
| Name | Country | Status | Service Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
INS Vikramaditya (R33) | 🇮🇳India | ACTIVE | 2013 – Present | Indian Navy carrier, former Soviet Admiral Gorshkov |
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