INS Vikramaditya reaches home base in Karwar

With Vikramaditya, for the first time in over two decades, the Indian navy has two operational aircraft including the aging INS Viraat, which is likely to be decommissioned in the next few years.

Vikramaditya was earlier scheduled to be inducted into the Navy in November, 2012 but some defects in its engines and boilers led to a year-long delay.

India and Russia had signed the deal for the aircraft carrier in 2004.

The warship has been inducted into the Navy after a delay of almost five years and a cost over-run of almost one billion dollars.

India is also manufacturing its first indigenous aircraft carrier in Cochin which is likely to be operational by 2018.