A indian navy commissioned today (02) its newest aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant. The vessel is the first of its kind to be manufactured in the country and will be able to carry about 40 planes and helicopters.
The commissioning ceremony of the Vikrant, also called Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1), was held at Cochin Shipyard and was chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Today, India s the countries of the world capable of building such a large aircraft carrier with indigenous technology. It is a symbol of Indian potential, Indian resources and Indian skills”, Modi said.
A special day 02 September 2022
INS Vikrant pic.twitter.com/gRhiqfns9p— PRO Shillong, Ministry of Defense (@proshilong) September 2, 2022
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The aircraft carrier Vikrant had its hull launched in 2013 and taken to sea for the first time in 2015. Its construction was completed in 2021, the same year in which sea trials began. The name Vikrant means "brave" in Sanskrit and is a tribute to the first Indian aircraft carrier, operated from 1961 to 1997
The ship has a displacement of 45 tons and is 262 meters long, and can carry up to 40 aircraft, including Mikoyan MiG-29K Fulcrum-D fighters and Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk and Kamov Ka-31 Helix helicopters. The crew consists of 1645 military personnel.
Chief of the Air Staff and all air warriors of the Indian Air Force congratulate Indian Navy on the commissioning of INS Vikrant.
ADVERTISING 'BRAVO ZULU' to the Indian Navy!
'शं नो वरुणः'#AtmanirbharBharat #TheLegendIsBack #INSVikrant pic.twitter.com/wr3q5EZWr8
- Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) September 2, 2022
Like the other Indian aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya, the Vikrant uses the STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) method, where planes use a ramp to take off, but land with the aid of steel cables. Despite being simpler and cheaper than CATOBAR, which uses catapults, STOBAR limits the type and payload of aircraft it can launch.
In addition to aircraft, the new Indian aircraft carrier has two Barak 8 anti-aircraft missile launchers, each with 35 missiles; four 630 mm AK-30 point defense systems and four 76 mm Otobreda naval guns.
Although it was commissioned today, the Vikrant is yet to finish testing the aircraft, with completion scheduled for 2023. At the same time, the Indian Navy wants new fighters to use on its new ship: the French Dassault rafale m and Boeing F / A-18E / F Super Hornet from United States.
The reason is dissatisfaction with the performance and maintenance of Russian MiG-29s. The fighters have already been evaluated in India and a decision should be announced this year or next. In addition, the Navy plans to operate, in the future, a naval fifth-generation fighter, the HAL Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), whose project has been underway since 2020.
