The Timer Starts! Vikrant, The Nation’s First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, Will Soon Join The Navy

The first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-I) of the nation, Vikrant, is about to be commissioned. IAC-1 will embark on its final set of sea trials later this week from Cochin Shipyard in Kochi, where it was built, in preparation for its anticipated commissioning next month. It should take about two weeks to conduct the last sea trials.

The estimated cost of building this battleship in India is Rs 23,000 crore. The indigenous aircraft carrier will be commissioned in the Indian Naval next month to honour 75 years of India’s independence, according to a senior navy officer.

The flying testing will follow shortly after that. The IAC-1, the largest and most sophisticated warship ever constructed in India, would be renamed INS Vikrant after commissioning.

Reach and adaptability of the 40,000-ton IAC-1 will provide the Indian Navy more power to defend the nation’s interests in the Indian Ocean region, where China is expanding its presence, and beyond. While China has two carriers operating in the area, the Indian Navy has only one, the 45,000-ton INS Vikramaditya, which is a modified Russian Admiral Gorshkov carrier.

Indigenous Content

Construction initially began in 2009.

The ship was designed in India, was built with Indian steel, and features domestically produced essential sensors and armaments throughout.

With the construction of this aircraft carrier, India has joined a select group of nations that are able to construct the most intricate and massive warship in the world.

According to officials, the new aircraft carrier will fly US-based MH-60R multi-role helicopters, Kamov-31 helicopters, and Russian MiG-29K fighters.

1700 people can be accommodated on this new cruiser, which also has 2,300 compartments and specific quarters for female officers.

It will have a top speed of 28 knots and a cruise speed of 18 knots with a range of 7,500 nautical miles.

This aircraft carrier is 262 metres long, 62 metres wide, and 59 metres tall.

The first, second, and third batches of crew have all been selected, as has been previously stated, and the new aircraft carrier’s captain has already been chosen and given approval.

Final Sea Trials

The warship is put through its final round of trials to see if it is prepared to execute very complex manoeuvres and how it performs in varied environments. Before being given to the customer, all equipment and sensor suites are tested at this time as well.