{"id":1186,"date":"2026-05-27T00:53:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T00:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2026-05-27T00:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T00:53:48","slug":"russia-cheats-india-to-buy-for-1-an-old-aircraft-carrier-then-forces-2-billion-in-repairs-lol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/russia-cheats-india-to-buy-for-1-an-old-aircraft-carrier-then-forces-2-billion-in-repairs-lol\/","title":{"rendered":"RUSSIA CHEATS INDIA TO BUY FOR $1 AN OLD AIRCRAFT CARRIER, THEN FORCES $2 BILLION IN REPAIRS!, LOL"},"content":{"rendered":"
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India\u2019s Big Naval Nightmare: Buying An Old Aircraft Carrier from Russia<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Kiev-Class<\/div>\n

Kiev-Class Aircraft Carrier Rebuilt and Serving in India’s Navy.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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India has always executed an unorthodox military strategy.\u00a0It is equipped with nuclear weapons but depends heavily on conventional forces to thwart its arch-enemy, Pakistan<\/a>. It was non-aligned<\/a> during the Cold War and still maintains its flinty independence. India is also known for purchasing significant numbers of arms systems from Russia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For example, it has around 2,500 T-72 tanks<\/a>. One purchase it would probably like to reconsider would be the acquisition of an aircraft carrier from Moscow that has been a big disappointment over the years.<\/p>\n

The India and Russia Aircraft Carrier Story Is Painful<\/h3>\n

The INS Vikramaditya<\/a> is a cautionary tale in the Indian Navy. The Indians wanted their own aircraft carrier in the early 2000s and looked to Russia for help.<\/p>\n

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However, the resulting ship has been afflicted with schedule slips and cost overruns. The saga has been a trail of tears for the Indian Navy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This story started in 1988 when the Soviet Union built the Kiev-class vessel named the Baku<\/a>. This was an interesting hybrid ship. The front of the ship reminded one of a heavy cruiser with anti-ship missile launchers and two deck guns. The rest of the vessel was a helicopter carrier.<\/p>\n

So far, so good.<\/p>\n

Admiral Gorshkov Was a Cursed Bucket of Bolts<\/h3>\n

Then the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991. The struggling Russian navy did not have much funding or the desire to feature the old Soviet navy flagships.<\/p>\n

Baku was renamed the Admiral Gorshkov<\/a>. It remained a part of the Russian maritime force<\/a> until 1996 when the trouble started.\u00a0 Since the Russian maintainers were not careful there was an explosion in the boiler room. This was the beginning of the carrier\u2019s heartache, and the Russians decided to retire it.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Indian navy had a problematic choice later that decade. They were also going to retire their only carrier, the INS Viraat<\/a>. This ship was going to be removed from active duty in 2007, and it would leave a big hole in the navy and keep the Indians from projecting power in their neighborhood.<\/p>\n

India Was in the Market for a New Aircraft Carrier<\/h3>\n

India looked around and there were just not any carriers available that the country could afford and the only bargain that it could find was in Russia.<\/p>\n

By 2004, the Indians were ready to finance a deal with Moscow. The government in New Delhi agreed that year to spend a whopping $974 million on the clunky Admiral Gorshkov.<\/p>\n

But since it was under a billion dollars, the Indians thought they made a prudent purchase and had a potential hit on their hands. They should have known better.<\/p>\n

The biggest problem was that the Gorshkov had been inactive all those years. As I explained above, the Russian Navy is not known for its maintenance prowess.<\/p>\n

This artifact was going to need some love and attention.<\/p>\n

India Was a Demanding Customer<\/h3>\n

India wanted an entire aircraft carrier, not just a hybrid aircraft carrier-cruiser. That meant a large flight deck supporting jet fighters \u2013 not just helicopters. Twenty-four MiG-29K fighters<\/a> and 10 Kamov helicopters<\/a> would be on board.<\/p>\n

Russia also promised to supply new radars, arresting gear, and improved elevators. India re-named the refurbished carrier Vikramaditya after an old-world term for regality.<\/p>\n

The Old Russia Bait and Switch Ploy<\/h3>\n

But once again, the Russians failed.<\/p>\n

The work wasn\u2019t complete by 2007, and Moscow wanted more funds to finish to the tune of $2.9 billion. Sea trials were going to cost $550 million.<\/p>\n

It became clear that the Russians wanted to bleed the Indians dry. By 2008, employees were only halfway done with the refurbishment. The Russian defense contractor had never worked on a carrier before, and it showed.<\/p>\n

India was in for a penny and in for a pound. It had already spent the first billion dollars, and it was too late to give up and extricate from the deal.<\/p>\n

The Russians stopped working on the carrier for another two years until India coughed more money. New Dehli agreed to pony up another billion dollars to sweeten the pot. It took an additional three years, but the carrier was finally delivered to conduct sea trials in 2012 and then commissioned in 2013.<\/p>\n

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Then, more difficulties ensued. Spare parts were hard to come by. The boilers were thought to have been newly replaced, but they were faulty and kept the propulsion system from working correctly. The boilers broke down at least once.<\/p>\n