In a major step towards self-reliance in the defence sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commission the country’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier as INS Vikrant on September 2.
Designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau and built by the Government-owned Cochin Shipyard Limited, Vikrant incorporates state-of-the-art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in the maritime history of India.
The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is named after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first Aircraft Carrier which had played a vital role in the 1971 war against Pakistan which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.
INS Vikrant has a large number of indigenous equipment and machinery, involving major industrial houses in the country as well as over 100 MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises). With its commissioning, India will have two operational Aircraft Carriers, which will bolster the maritime security of the nation.
Prime Minister has been a strong proponent of Aatmanirbharta, especially in strategic sectors and the INS Vikrant represents a crucial milestone in the realisation of this vision.
During the event, the Prime Minister will also unveil the new Naval Ensign (Nishaan), doing away with the colonial past and befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage.
Prime Minister will also visit Sri Adi Shankara Janma Bhoomi Kshetram, the holy birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya, at Kalady village near Cochin Airport when he arrives in the city.
“Using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), INS Vikrant is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft, and a set of three ‘arrester wires’ for their recovery onboard,” according to a Navy statement.
The Indian Navy is looking at procuring either the Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet or Dassault Aviation’s Rafale-M for the INS Vikrant. Trials of both the US and French fighter jets are being carried out.
“From November we will commence landing trails which we hope to complete by middle of next year. We will put in all effort so that the aircraft carrier is operational with the aircraft and the aircraft which are available with us are the MiG-29s,” Indian Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral SN Ghormade said at a press conference last week. The carrier should be fully operational by end 2023, he stated.
Ghormade said that they have carried out five sets of trials since August 2021 and were extremely successful. “From the propulsion, equipment and weapons point of view, the ship is fully operational.”
“After commissioning, when the complete crew is there, all systems are in place, only then aircraft landing trials happen. This is true for all advanced nations,” the Vice Chief explained.
