Defence Research and Development Organization to create new facilities for testing and quality; Russian sea trial of Admiral Gorshkov to be held in May 2012
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • According to reports, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will invest over Rs 1000 crore to create 4-5 new facilities for testing and quality. The investment and creation of these facilities will be over the next two-three years. These include, a full-fledged launch control centre in Port Blair, a hypersonic wind tunnel testing facility near Hyderabad, a hi-tech electronic range in Andhra Pradesh and another centre for testing and calibration of materials, according to Mr Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (R&D), Missiles and strategic systems of the DRDO. 1

    In another development, reports noted that Russia will launch sea trials of heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened INS Vikramaditya on May 25, 2012. The 44,000-ton carrier, which is being completely retrofitted for the Indian Navy, will first be taken to the White Sea and then to the Barents Sea. It will be docked there for three to four months for sea trial, the Sevmash shipyard said in a statement on Friday. "After the sea trials are done, we plan to hand over the carrier to India by December 4," Sevmash release said. Gorshkov's main power generators are being tested and finishing touches given to its sleeping and living quarters, the shipyard said, adding "the crew training was completed last month". Gorshkov, rechristened INS Vikramaditya, is a Soviet-made Project 1143.4 class aircraft carrier. It was sold to India in 2004 but the delivery has been delayed because of differences over its escalating cost. The vessel is expected to have a service life of 30 years. 2

    Top