Editing INS Vikrant (1961) (section)

===Later years===

[[File:INS Vikrant (R11) with a Sea King helicopter during Indo-Pakistani war of 1971.jpg|thumb|A Sea King helicopter with INS ''Vikrant'']]
''Vikrant'' did not see much service after the war, and was given two major modernisation [[refit]]s—the first one from 1979 to 1981 and the second one from 1987 to 1989.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}} In the first phase, her boilers, radars, communication systems and anti-aircraft guns were modernised, and facilities to operate Sea Harriers were installed.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=276}} In the second phase, facilities to operate the new Sea Harrier Vertical/Short Take Off and Land (V/STOL) fighter aircraft and the new Sea King Mk 42B Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters were introduced. A 9.75-degree [[Aircraft ski-jump|ski-jump ramp]] was fitted.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}} The [[steam catapult]] was removed during this phase.{{Sfn|Hobbs|2014|p=203}} Again in 1991, ''Vikrant'' underwent a six-month refit, followed by another fourteen-month refit in 1992–94. She remained operational thereafter, flying Sea Harriers, Sea Kings and Chetaks until her final sea outing on 23 November 1994.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}} In the same year, a fire was also recorded aboard.{{Sfn|Hobbs|2014|p=203}} In January 1995, the navy decided to keep ''Vikrant'' in "safe to float" state.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}} She was [[laid up]] and formally decommissioned on 31 January 1997.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=152}}