New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 2 will join the Vikrant – India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier – making the country one of the select group of nations that can build a carrier with a displacement of over 40,000 tonnes.
The Navy said on Thursday that Vikrant will leave after commissioning.
The Navy also emphasized that India has the capability and ecosystem to build another indigenous aircraft carrier. With this, the country will get three aircraft carriers apart from INS Vikramaditya and the commissioned Vikrant. However, the approval of the central government is pending for the third one.
While five sets of tests have been completed for Vikrant, another test will take place from November this year. The Navy said the Vikrant is expected to complete all trials by the middle of next year.
Vikrant’s keel-laying was done in 2009, the ship was first launched in August 2013, sea trials began in August 2021, and the ship was delivered in July 2022.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff Satish Namdev Ghormade Highlighting the commissioning of Vikrant as an important step towards making India a Blue Water Navy. He also said that the aircraft carrier would be necessary to maintain safety and security in the Indo-Pacific.
The Deputy Chief hailed Vikrant’s creation as a “complete nation endeavour”. The deputy chief said that 18 states and union territories supplied the components, underlining that Vikrant was built with 76 per cent indigenisation. Ambala, Daman, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Kota, Pune and New Delhi were some of the parts sending cities.
The Vikrant was designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by the Cochin Shipyard.
Equipped with 32 MRSAMs and a displacement of 42,800 tonnes
Vikrant is equipped with 32 Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM). It will also be loaded with AK 630 rotary cannons, which are close-in weapon systems.
It will also have the Kavach Anti-Missile Naval Decoy System, which is used to deflect laser-guided missiles from their targets.
In addition, Vikrant has the capacity to house a mix of 30 aircraft and helicopters. It has a displacement of 42,800 tonnes.
Vikrant can accommodate a crew of 1600 people. It has a cruising speed of 18 knots and a maximum speed of 28 knots. It has a maximum range of 7,500 nautical miles.
76 percent of indigenization
Vikrant comprises of more than 100 MSMEs and indigenous original equipment manufacturers. In addition, more than 500 sub-contractors and ancillary industries are involved in its manufacturing in India, the Navy said.
The steel for the ship has been jointly developed by the Steel Authority of India Limited and the Difference Research and Development Organisation.
The carrier’s combat management system, electronic warfare suite, data network, power distribution system and integrated platform management system are all indigenously built.
The Combat Management System is built by Tata Advanced Systems, Electronic Warfare Suite and Data Network by Bharat Electronics, Power Network by L&T and Integrated Platform Management System by Bharat Heavy Electricals.
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