Soviet aircraft carrier Baku
The Admiral Gorshkov was an aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy. Originally named Baku, she was the fourth of the Type 1143 aircraft carrying cruisers, known as the Kiev class. The ship was laid down in 1978, launched in 1982, and commissioned in 1987. In terms of her armament, the Baku was built with a modified design relative to the other three Kiev class vessels; however, she carried an identical air wing, consisting of a squadron of twelve Yak-38 'Forger' V/STOL aircraft, twelve Ka-27 'Helix-A' ASW/SAR helicopters and two Ka-31 'Helix' AEW helicopters. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ship was renamed Admiral Gorshkov. 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 Although she returned to service in 1995, she was finally withdrawn in 1996 and offered for sale.
The Gorshkov was laid down in Dec 1978, Launched in 1982, and comissioned in December 1987 and retired in 1996.
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 ( ft)
- 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 - fighter aircraft
- 20 helicopters
Russia and India came to an agreement over the sale of the ship, which they had been haggling over for many years, in 2004, following which the ship will be extensively refitted in order to replace the existing Indian aircraft carrier INS Viraat. India will spend approximately 800 million US$ to upgrade and refit the ship. Upgrade plans involve stripping all the weaponry from the ship's foredeck, allowing her to operate the MiG-29 'Fulcrum' and Sea Harrier aircraft. The deal also includes the purchase of 30 MIG 29 K aircraft, six Kamov-31 attack and reconnaissance anti-submarine helicopters, torpedo tubes, missile systems, and artillery units, costing an additional 700 million US$. The ship will be operated in a STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Assisted Recovery) configuration, with a 14 degree ski-jump on the bow and three arrestor wires on the stern. It is estimated that the ship will enter service in the Indian Navy in 2008 as the INS Vikramaditya.