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Ships in the Indian Navy

Aircraft Carriers

The Indian Navy presently has two aircraft carriers in active service, INS Viraat (UK) and INS
Vikramaditya (Russia). INS Viraat is planned for decommissioning after the induction of the first
domestically built Vikrant class aircraft carrier which has been launched in 2013 at Cochin Shipyard
Limited.

INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier which entered into service with the
Indian Navy in 2013. The ship has been renamed in honour of Vikramaditya, a legendary 1st century
BC emperor of Ujjain. Originally built as Baku and commissioned in 1987, the carrier served with
the Soviet (until the dissolution of the Soviet Union) and Russian Navies before being

decommissioned in 1996 as she was too expensive to operate on a post-Cold War budget. The carrier
was purchased by India on 20 January 2004 after years of negotiations at a final price of $2.35
billion. The ship successfully completed her sea trials in July 2013 and aviation trials in September
2013. She was formally commissioned on 16 November 2013 at a ceremony held at Severodvinsk,
Russia.

Amphibious Vessels

The Indian Navy has an Amphibious transport dock of the Austin class, re-christened as INS
Jalashwa in service. Besides, it also maintains a fleet of landing ship tanks and other landing crafts. It
is expected that four amphibious assault ships will join service along with eight landing craft vessels
in the near future.

Destroyers and Frigates

The Indian Navy currently operates the Delhi and Rajput class guided-missile destroyers. The Delhi
and Rajput class destroyers will be replaced by the next-generation Kolkata class (Project 15A

destroyers). Seven vessels are expected to be commissioned in the near future. In 2011, the Indian
government gave the go-ahead for an additional Project 15B destroyer (upgraded Kolkata class)
project.

The frigate classes currently in service are Shivalik class frigates, of which 2 are in service and 3
Talwar class frigates. The last vessel of the Shivalik class (project 17) is undergoing sea trials and is
expected to be commissioned some time this year. Furthermore seven Project 17A class frigates

(improved Shivalik class project 17 frigates) are on order and India recently closed a deal with
Russia to construct three more Talwar class frigates, the first of which is expected to enter service in
early 2014. The older Brahmaputra class and Godavari class frigates will systematically be replaced
one by one as new ships are brought into service over the next decade. The last remaining Nilgiri
class frigate (a variant of the British Leander class) is soon to be decommissioned as it is replaced by
the last Shivalik class (project 17) frigate.