Captain Krishna Swaminathan on Monday assumed charge as the second Commanding Officer of INS Vikramaditya, Indian Navy's new and formidable aircraft carrier, at Karwar.
The ship was commissioned at Severodvinsk in Russia on November 16, 2013, and has since been commanded by Captain Suraj Berry, NM.
Captain Swaminathan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), 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.
Captain Swaminathan did his schooling from Bishop Cottons Boy's School, Bengaluru and Sainik School, Bijapur. He had previously commanded missile vessels INS Vidyut and Vinash, missile corvette INS Kulish and guided missile destroyer INS Mysore.
He has a B.Sc. degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, a Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management from the Xavier Institute of Management, Mumbai, MA (Defence Studies) from King's College, London, M.Phil (Defence and Strategic Studies) from Mumbai University and has submitted his thesis on international relations to the Mumbai University for a Ph.D degree.
He has been on the staff of the Western Fleet, an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and Director and Principal Director Naval Signals at Naval Headquarters. The officer was Naval Assistant to the Chief of the Naval Staff in his previous appointment.
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 viz. the Western Fleet.
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Since arrival in Indian waters, several dignitaries have visited the ship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had embarked the ship on June 14 last year.
Vice President Hamid Ansari had also visited the ship last year. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar witnessed operations onboard during TROPEX 15 on February 13 and 14 this year.
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. INS Vikramaditya is a significant accretion to the blue water capability of the Indian Navy and is very aptly described by its motto 'Strike Far, Strike Sure'.