SEVERODVINSK, RUSSIA (BNS): India's maritime capabilities received a major fillip on Saturday when the Russian-built Kiev-class giant aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya was inducted into service after a prolonged wait of over five years.
The 44,570-tonne warship was officially handed over to India at the Sevmash Shipyard in a ceremony attended by Defence Minister A K Antony and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin along with senior government and naval officials of the two countries.
The Russian flag on the vessel was lowered and the flag of the Indian Navy was raised in its place, Ria Novosti news agency reported.
The commissioning documents were signed by deputy director of Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Igor Sevastyanov and the warship's captain Suraj Berry.
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