INS Vikrant: After 17 years of work, India gets its first indigenous aircraft carrier

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, at the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi today (September 5). It is the largest ship ever built in India's maritime history and will strengthen India's naval prowess.

With the commissioning of Vikrant, India would join a select group of nations having the capability to design and build an aircraft carriers.

Shaping a Dream Building a Nation

Designed by #IndianNavy constructed by @cslcochin, a shining beacon of #AatmaNirbharBharat, #IACVikrant is all set to be commissioned into the #IndianNavy.#INSVikrant#LegendisBack@PMOIndia @DefenceMinIndia @shipmin_india @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/RVweCActMW

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) September 2, 2022

During the event, PM Modi said that When India resolves to do something, no goal, no objective is unachievable. "Today, India is one of the few nations building state-of-the-art defence technologies," he said.

How INS Vikrant was built: The aircraft carrier has been built using equipment and machinery supplied by India's major industrial houses and over 100 MSMEs.

• Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB), Indian Navy's in-house organisation and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the indigenous aircraft carrier is christened after her illustrious predecessor, India's first aircraft carrier which played a vital role in the 1971 war.
• The warship grade steel required for construction of IAC was made by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) in collaboration with Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Indian Navy. The hull fabrication progressed thereafter and the ship's keel was laid in February 2009, reported India Today.

• The first phase of ship construction was completed with its successful launch in August 2013.

Why was it named Vikrant? INS Vikrant is christened after her illustrious predecessor, India's first aircraft carrier which played a vital role in the 1971 war. Vikrant meaning victorious and gallant, the foundation for IAC was established in April 2005 by ceremonial Steel Cutting, reported PTI.

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier #IACVikrant the largest & most complex warship ever built in the maritime history of #India, named after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first Aircraft Carrier which played a vital role in the 1971 war is all set to be commissioned#INSVikrant pic.twitter.com/ADsSoIXUNr

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) September 2, 2022

About the aircraft carrier: The 262 m long and 62 m wide Vikrant displaces approximately 43000 T when fully loaded, having a maximum designed speed of 28 knots with endurance of 7500 NM, a defence statement said.

• The ship has around 2,200 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,600 that include specialised cabins to accommodate women officers and sailors, reported PTI.
• The aircraft carrier has a full-fledged medical complex with latest equipment including physiotherapy clinic, ICU, laboratories and isolation ward.

It would be capable of operating an air wing consisting of 30 aircraft, comprising MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 and MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), reported PTI.

Short of jets on deck: According to a report in Reuters, INS Vikrant however will not have its own fleet of fighter jets on deck. It will rely on borrowing MiG-29K fighter jets from India’s only other carrier, the INS Vikramaditya.

France’s Dassault and Boeing are locked in a race to provide the Indian government with over two dozen jets earmarked for the Vikrant, reported Reuters.

During the event, PM Modi also unveiled the new naval flag, and got rid of the St George's cross from its ensign.

"Till now the identity of slavery remained on the flag of Indian Navy. But from today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the new Navy flag will fly in the sea and in the sky," PM Modi said.

#Historical...

Hon'ble PM @narendramodi unveils the new #naval ensign making 02 Sep 2022 as a momentous day in the history of #IndianNavy#HarKaamDeshKeNaam@DefenceMinIndia@Indiannavy pic.twitter.com/eu3BpmWQfX

— IN (@IndiannavyMedia) September 2, 2022