On July 28, the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) handed over India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), the ‘Vikrant,’ to the Indian Navy.
“The reincarnation of ‘Vikrant’ is a true testimony to the country’s zeal and fervour in pursuing capability build up towards enhanced maritime security,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated.
The project, which cost nearly Rs 20,000 crore in total, was completed in three phases: the first sea trials were completed in August 2021, followed by the second and third phases in October 2021 and January 2022, respectively.
IAC give boost to ‘Make in India’ initiative
The IAC gives a boost to the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative by involving industrial houses such as Bharat Electronics, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Keltron, Kirloskar, Larsen & Toubro, and Wartsila India, according to the MoD.
The development and production of indigenous warship-grade steel for the ship, through a partnership between Navy, DRDO and Steel Authority of India (SAIL), has enabled the country to become self-sufficient with respect to warship steel.
“Today all the warships being built in the country are being manufactured using indigenous steel,” the ministry said.
Development of ancillary industries
The project has resulted in the development of ancillary industries, as well as the creation of job opportunities and a positive ripple effect on the economy, both locally and across India. CSL has also upgraded its shipbuilding infrastructure and increased productivity during the ship’s construction.
The Indian Navy and CSL had to overcome a slew of unprecedented technical and logistical challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and a shifting geopolitical landscape.
The indigenous aircraft carrier would soon be commissioned into the Indian Navy as the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant which would bolster India’s position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its quest for a blue water Navy.
What do you need to know about the ‘Vikrant’?
The ship, designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and built by CSL, was crucial in the 1971 war. The full displacement of the 262-metre-long carrier is close to 45,000 tonnes.
The ship has a top speed of 51.85 kilometres per hour and is powered by four gas turbines totaling 88 megawatts.
According to the press release, the ‘Vikrant’ has been designed with a high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation, and survivability, and is capable of operating a 30 aircraft air wing.
Using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Landing), the IAC is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft, and a set of ‘arrester wires’ for their recovery onboard.
Several design iterations, including the use of 3D virtual reality models and advanced engineering software were used by the Directorate of Naval Design in shaping the design of the carrier.