Capt Krishna Swaminathan takes charge of INS Vikramaditya
INS Vikramaditya is part of the sword arm of Indian Navy, the Western Fleet
New Delhi: Captain Krishna Swaminathan on Monday assumed charge as the second Commanding Officer of INS Vikramaditya, Indian Navy's formidable aircraft carrier. Swaminathan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla; the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom; the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja; and the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
The ship, commissioned at Severodvinsk in Russia on November 16, 2013 had been commanded by Captain Suraj Berry. Swaminathan had previously commanded missile vessels INS Vidyut and Vinash, missile corvette INS Kulish and guided missile destroyer INS Mysore.
INS Vikramaditya, the flagship and centre-piece of the Navy's operations, is under the administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Mumbai and is part of the sword arm of Indian Navy, the Western Fleet.
The ship is capable of operating MiG 29K/KuB fighters, Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak Helicopters from its deck.