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Home  » News » PIX: 4 awesome hours onboard INS Vikramaditya

PIX: 4 awesome hours onboard INS Vikramaditya

By Prasanna D Zore
Last updated on: December 08, 2016 15:54 IST
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AWESOME!!!
AMAZING!!!!
INCREDIBLE!!!!!
Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore exclaims when he encounters the INS Vikramaditya, India's majestic aircraft carrier.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

One can feel the surge of adrenalin as we close in on to the aircraft carrier.

The naval warship made up of 44,500 tonnes of steel, boasts of 22 decks, has a length of 284 metres and a breadth of 60 metres, big enough to accommodate three football fields, and yet does 30 knots in choppy seas.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

Interacting with the media on board the INS Vikramaditya, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, points out that "The Indian Navy is alert, watchful, and fully equipped to safeguard India's maritime interests. We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of the country from any challenge or threat originating from the sea."

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

Asked why the Vikramaditya was described as a 'game changer, Captain Krishna Swaminathan, the aircraft carrier's Commanding Officer, tells Rediff.com, "This is a very capable ship, a very solid platform and has a variety of aircraft that can perform a variety of roles and provide the navy and the nation with professional capability."

Please take a look at this video to know what Captain Swaminathan means.

Refusing to draw comparisons between the INS Viraat and the Vikramaditya, the captain says, "The Viraat was a very, very good ship in her time and the Vikramaditya is a very, very good ship in today's times."

"The Vikramaditya will soon be sailing the seas and do what it has been commissioned for," Captain Swaminathan says, adding, "We will be very happy to do what we are supposed to do."

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

The Vikramaditya has on board MiG 29K aircraft.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

And Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Russian-made helicopters.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

Its Chetak helicopters are deployed mostly in search and rescue operations.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

Lieutenant Commander Lalit Yadav, who flies the Kamovs, with his crew.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

The MiGs stationed near the ski-jump, which is made up of 900 tonnes of steel at the ship's bow.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

A sweeping view from the bow to the aft on board the Vikramaditya.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

A commando maintains a vigil at the bow of the Vikramaditya.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

An imposing MiG 29K on board the aircraft carrier.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

Strike Far! Strike Sure! -- the Vikramaditya's motto.

Onboard INS Vikramaditya

A parting shot of the majestic sentinel of the seas.

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Prasanna D Zore / Rediff.com