Refitted Aircraft Carrier News

The 'Vikramaditya', formerly the Russian Navy's Admiral Gorshkov, already years past its set delivery had been due for delivery in December 2012. Pre-handover sea trials in September revealed the ship's boilers were not fully functional, but these defects are expected to be remedied at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk by summer 2013, reports RiaNovosti. Indian media have speculated New Delhi may seek more than $100 million in penalty payments from Russia for the latest delays in handing over the refitted aircraft carrier.

Xu Hongmeng, deputy commander of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said the PLA plans to put the carrier, which has undergone four sea trials into service this year. The former Varyag, which is docked in Dalian Port, in Northeast China's Liaoning province, is currently equipped with life-size model planes. China's first aircraft carrier, a retrofitted former Soviet vessel, set out on its maiden voyage on Aug 10 and returned to port five days later. It underwent three more sea trials in the Pacific.