The VIPs of the Indian Navy are here. Aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Viraat reached Kochi on Monday. This is the first time that the newly acquired INS Vikramaditya is visiting Kochi after she entered into the service of the Indian Navy. It is also the first time that both aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy are berthing in Kochi simultaneously.
The fleet of seven ships under the Western Naval Command, including the two aircraft carriers, is commanded by Flag Officer Commanding Western fleet Rear Admiral R Hari Kumar. The visit of the fleet is aimed at professional interactions between the officers and men of the different training units in Kochi and the visiting ships.
Acquired in 2013 and formally inducted into service in June 2014. Vikramaditya, is based at Karwar in Karnataka and is commanded by Captain Suraj Berry.
Originally built and commissioned in 1987, the carrier served with the Soviet Union and later with the Russian Navy as Admiral Gorshkov before it was decommissioned in 1996 owing to the high cost of operations. The carrier was purchased by India in January 2004 and she was handed over in 2013 after refitting and sea trials.
The ship has been fully integrated with the fleet post trials and has successfully participated in the recently concluded Theater level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX) where it was extensively used in its operational role.
