INS Vikramaditya inducted into navy

The mammoth 44,500-tonne warship was commissioned into the Indian Navy 

at the Sevmash Shipyard in this northern Arctic port at a handing over ceremony attended by defence minister AK 

Antony and Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and 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. In a traditional Indian ritual, a coconut was broken against the ship’s side.

The commissioning papers were signed by deputy director of Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Igor Sevastyanov and the ship’s captain Suraj Berry, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The warship was first scheduled to be delivered in 2008, but the deadline was repeatedly postponed over the period.