Why India's Aircraft Carrier from Russia Was a Total Lemon
Key point: Buyers can't be choosers when there are very few sellers to pick from.
Like a lot of countries, India wants the best weapons it can afford. But ideological and financial concerns mean there are a lot of things it won’t buy from the United States or Europe. That pretty much leaves, well, Russia.
India has been a big buyer of Russian weapons for 50 years. Those haven’t been easy years for New Delhi. India’s defense contracts with Russia have consistently suffered delays and cost overruns. And the resulting hardware doesn’t always work.
Of all India’s Russian procurement woes, none speak more to the dysfunctional relationship between the two countries than the saga of INS Vikramaditya. In the early 2000s, India went shopping for a new aircraft carrier. What followed was a military-industrial nightmare.
要點(diǎn)：當(dāng)可供選擇的賣家很少的時候，買家就沒辦法挑三揀四了。
像許多國家一樣，印度希望購買到能力范圍內(nèi)最好的武器。但意識形態(tài)和財(cái)力方面的擔(dān)憂意味著，印度沒法從美國或歐洲購買到很多東西。那么剩下可選的就是俄羅斯了。
50年來，印度一直是俄羅斯武器的大買家。這幾年對新德里來說并不容易。印度與俄羅斯的防務(wù)合同一直受到拖延和成本超支的困擾。結(jié)果武器硬件常常出問題。
印度在俄羅斯采購方面遇到的所有麻煩中，尤以“維克拉瑪?shù)賮喬枴焙侥缸钅苷f明兩國關(guān)系的失調(diào)。21世紀(jì)初，印度購買了一艘新航母?？蓻]想到隨之而來的是一場軍工噩夢。
Wanted—one new(ish) carrier
In 1988, the Soviet Union commissioned the aircraft carrier Baku. She and her four sisters of the Kiev class represented a unique Soviet design. The front third resembled a heavy cruiser, with 12 giant SS-N-12 anti-ship missiles, up to 192 surface-to-air missiles and two 100-millimeter deck guns. The remaining two-thirds of the ship was basically an aircraft carrier, with an angled flight deck and a hangar.
Baku briefly served in the Soviet navy until the USSR dissolved in 1991. Russia inherited the vessel, renamed her Admiral Gorshkov and kept her on the rolls of the new Russian navy until 1996. After a boiler room explosion, likely due to a lack of maintenance, Admiral Gorshkov went into mothballs.
需求：一艘新航母
1988年，蘇聯(lián)建造了巴庫號航空母艦。這艘航母和另外四艘基輔級航母代表著獨(dú)特的蘇聯(lián)設(shè)計(jì)。其有三分之一類似重型巡洋艦，配備12枚巨型SS-N-12反艦導(dǎo)彈，多達(dá)192枚地對空導(dǎo)彈和兩門100毫米甲板炮。還有三分之二基本而言是航空母艦，上有一個傾斜的飛行甲板和一個機(jī)庫。
巴庫曾在蘇聯(lián)海軍短暫服役到1991年蘇聯(lián)。俄羅斯拿回了這艘航母，將其重新命名為“戈?duì)柺部品蚝＼娚蠈ⅰ碧?，并將其保留在俄羅斯新海軍的名單上，直到1996年才退役。可能是由于缺乏維護(hù)，戈?duì)柺部品蛏蠈l(fā)生了鍋爐房爆炸，后被封存。
In the early 2000s, India faced a dilemma. The Indian navy’s only carrier INS Viraat was set to retire in 2007. Carriers help India assert influence over the Indian Ocean—not to mention, they’re status symbols. New Delhi needed to replace Viraat, and fast.
India’s options were limited. The only countries building carriers at the time—the United States, France and Italy—were building ships too big for India’s checkbook. In 2004, India and Russia struck a deal in which India would receive Admiral Gorshkov. The ship herself would be free, but India would pay $974 million dollars to Russia to upgrade her.
21世紀(jì)初，印度面臨著一個兩難境地。印度海軍唯一的航母“維拉特”號將于2007年退役。航母幫助印度在印度洋施加影響——更不用說，航母就是身份地位的象征。新德里需要盡快用新航母來取代“維拉特”號。
印度的選擇十分有限。當(dāng)時有能力建造航母的國家只有美國、法國和意大利，他們建造的航母對印度來說太大了。2004年，印度和俄羅斯達(dá)成協(xié)議，印度將接收戈?duì)柺部品蚝＼娚蠈?。這艘航母本身是免費(fèi)的，但印度需要支付9.74億美元給俄羅斯，對航母進(jìn)行升級。
雅虎網(wǎng)站讀者評論：
Adam2 days ago
Russian Air Craft Carrier is a White Elephant ---------- looks good but does not work
俄羅斯航空母艦是個華而不實(shí)的負(fù)擔(dān)——看起來不錯，但一點(diǎn)也不實(shí)用
Alex
" The ship herself would be free, but India would pay $974 million dollars to Russia to upgrade her."
hahaha that's a deal that puts u at the mercy of Russia if ever I saw one..
“這艘航母本身是免費(fèi)的，但印度必須支付9.74億美元給俄羅斯，進(jìn)行航母升級?！?/p>
哈哈，這樣的交易，你就得聽俄羅斯擺布了。
Joe
When India opened the repair manual all it had was a picture of duct tape.
當(dāng)印度翻開維修手冊，里面只有一張管道膠帶的圖片。
Al
I hope the ship yard gets more carriers to build, this way most will be in dry dock the majority of the time for repairs and no threat to anyone. You get what you pay for when it comes to things like this.
我希望這個造船廠能造更多的航母，這樣大部分時間航母都會停靠在干船塢維修，不會對任何人造成威脅。一分錢一分貨。
Christian
Who in their right mind buys a ship from a country that doesn't have a warm-water port?
那個腦子正常的人會從一個沒有溫水港的國家購買船只呢？
Everybodydancenow
Do you think when the Captain called tech support the call just routed to the guy sitting next to him?
你覺得船長打電話給技術(shù)支持時，電話會不會轉(zhuǎn)接到坐在他旁邊的人那里？
Rousslan
Admiral Gorshkov is “aircraft cruiser”, not “aircraft carrier”. It seems the author doesn’t see any difference. Russians don’t build the carriers. They build cruisers with quite powerful rocket systems, very advanced ones. But they would like to have some planes on board for any case.
戈?duì)柺部品蛏蠈⑹恰帮w機(jī)巡洋艦”，而不是“航空母艦”。作者似乎沒發(fā)現(xiàn)什么不同。俄羅斯人不造航母。他們用非常先進(jìn)的火箭系統(tǒng)建造巡洋艦。但他們都希望能有一些飛機(jī)在上面。
Jeff
When you buy a used Aircraft Carrier from Russia, It does not come with a Warranty! LOL
當(dāng)你從俄羅斯購買二手航空母艦時，它是沒有保修的！哈哈
Granite
As an American, all I can say if these results continue. Continue to use their services.
作為一個美國人，我只能說，繼續(xù)使用他們的服務(wù)吧。
Richard
The Russians brag about having the largest machine in the world.It takes 2 people to steer it and 500 people to push it!
俄羅斯人吹噓他們擁有世界上最大的機(jī)器。需要兩個人來駕駛，另外還需要500個人來推！
elsquared67
India's mistake was taking the carrier for free, then paying Russia for the work. Russia played them for fools. They should have just bought the carrier outright, then asked for bids on the work from shipyards in other countries.
印度錯在收了免費(fèi)的航母，然后付錢給俄羅斯進(jìn)行升級。俄羅斯愚弄了他們。他們應(yīng)該直接買下航母，然后向其他國家的造船廠招標(biāo)。
Kal
Trusting the Russian was their first mistake, then agreeing to a deal with them is their second.
信任俄羅斯人是他們的第一個錯誤，而與他們達(dá)成協(xié)議則是他們的第二個錯誤。
DavidC
Because it was MADE IN RUSSIA! That is why it is a lemon. What do you expect when their only one has to have tug boats go with it to tow it back to port.
因?yàn)檫@是俄羅斯制造的！這就是它這么不堪的原因。他們唯一的一艘航母都被拖船拖回港口了，你還能指望什么？
Steve
Offered the product for under a billion and wanted to change the price, after the agreement was made, to about 4 billion. Sounds like a few auto-body shops I dealt with in the past!
以低于10億美元的價格出售該產(chǎn)品，并在協(xié)議達(dá)成后將價格調(diào)整至40億美元左右。聽起來很像我以前接觸過的幾家汽車修理店的套路！
RichardG
As next step, India can consider to buy Air Craft Carrier from China. China only take three years to build a new on on average
下一步，印度可以考慮從中國購買航空母艦。中國平均只需要3年就可以建成一艘新航母。
tRumpissaMOron
Question: How does a Russian admiral review his surface fleet?
Answer: With a GLASS BOTTOMED BOAT!!!!
問:俄羅斯海軍上將如何檢閱他的海上艦隊(duì)?
答:乘坐玻璃底的船!!
bala
INDIA having learned its lesson is building its own third Aircraft carrier which will go into service in few yrs.
印度已經(jīng)吸取了教訓(xùn)，正在建造自己的第三艘航母，幾年后將投入使用。
No Code
The world is fascinated by death and destruction. Fixated on it. We never ever even consider living in peace with each other. And for good reason. It is very profitable.
世界醉心于死亡和毀滅。我們從來沒有想過要和睦相處。理由很充分。這是非常有利可圖的。
Conch
What did they expect? It was bought from the Russians. Did India think they were getting a choice piece for the price they paid. But look at it this way, it is probably better then what they had before. Rowboats with paddles.
他們期待什么呢？這是從俄國人那里買來的。印度認(rèn)為他們付的錢物有所值嗎？但是從這個角度來看，它可能比之前擁有的要好一些。比如靠劃槳前進(jìn)的劃艇。
Socialists the lowest form
WELL THAT'S WHAT USUALLY RUSSIAN AND CHINESE EQUIPMENT TEND TO BE, NO??!!??
嗯，這不就是俄羅斯和中國軍備常見的問題嗎？不是嗎？
Dibrini
I heard that Tech Support was unable to solve the problem.
我聽說技術(shù)支持無法解決這個問題。
JamesB
The ship is so successful India finally broke down and began building their own carriers. The ship will probably be scrapped in a couple years and India will write it off ans a disastrous vanity move. It is also a major reason India is opening up to the US and to Britain.
這艘航母終于成功地讓印度崩潰，開始建造自己的航母了。這艘航母可能會在幾年后報(bào)廢，印度會把它一筆勾銷，這是一個災(zāi)難性的虛榮心舉動。這也是印度向美國和英國開放的一個主要原因。
Sharone
These people are chisel headed. Remember the Pakistan-US fighter jet that downed the India-Russian fighter jet?
這些人頭腦都很清楚。還記得擊落印俄戰(zhàn)機(jī)的巴基斯坦-美國戰(zhàn)機(jī)嗎？
Richard Fitzwell
I heard it wasn't that bad. It came with its fleet of tug boats. So what's the problem, as the Russians say.
我聽說這艘航母并沒那么糟糕。它和它的拖船艦隊(duì)一起來了。那么，正如俄羅斯人所說，問題出在哪里呢?
Roy
You get what you pay for! Try France?
一分錢一分貨！試試法國貨？
Dragon Dawn
China is building 003 and 004, a nuke carrier. At that time, Russia and India love to buy the 001 training but combat-ready 001 Chinese carrier, lots of upgrades done.
中國正在建造003和004型核動力航母。當(dāng)時，俄羅斯和印度都很喜歡購買001訓(xùn)練艦，但中國的001戰(zhàn)備航母做了很多升級。
JNF2
Better late than never, India's current efforts to join forces with Europe is the only option
亡羊補(bǔ)牢，為時不晚，印度與歐洲聯(lián)手是目前唯一的選擇。
mike
Buying a carrier from Russia would be like ordering that taco from Burger King. Poor decision making
從俄羅斯人手里購買航母就像在漢堡王點(diǎn)玉米卷。這純屬決策失誤。
ethan
Haven't had that many laughs from a Yahoo-posted story ever!
我還從來沒因?yàn)檠呕l(fā)布的一篇報(bào)道這么爆笑過！
