New Delhi: Indigenous carrier Vikrant – the most important and most complex warship India has ever designed and built – depart on its maiden sea trials today, 50 years after its namesake’s key role within the 1971 war.
A tweet from the Navy Spokesperson’s handle hailed this “proud and historical moment for India”, particularly since it represents another step within the government’s go after an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and therefore the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and promised “many more will follow…”
“India joins a get group of countries having niche capability to indigenously design, build and integrate a state-of-the-art carrier . Reaching this milestone despite COVID-19 challenges (was) made possible by dedicated efforts of all stakeholders,” the Navy said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the Vikrant’s maiden sea trials a “true testimony to our unwavering commitment to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat'”.
“Maiden sea sortie of Indigenous carrier Vikrant may be a true testimony to our unwavering commitment to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in Defence. Realisation of this historic milestone, no matter Covid, shows true dedication & commitment of all stakeholders. A proud moment for India,” he said.
A statement from the Navy said Vikrant is 262m long, a maximum of 62m wide and 59m high, including the superstructure. it’s 14 decks – five within the superstructure. Designed for a crew of around 1,700, it’s over 2,300 compartments, including cabins to accommodate women officers.
“The ship has been designed with a really high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability… features a top speed of around 28 knots (approx. 52 km per hour) and cruising speed of 18 knots (approx. 33.37 km per hour) with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles (approx. 13,900 km),” the Navy said in its statement.
Vikrant will operate with approximately 24 Russian-built MiG-29K fighter jets – an equivalent fighters already deployed on the INS Vikramaditya, presently the Navy’s only operational carrier .
“With the delivery of IAC (Vikrant), India will join a get group of countries with the potential to indigenously design and build an carrier , which can be a true testimony to the make-in-India thrust of the Indian Government,” the Navy said, adding that its ship-building programme also includes 44 ships and submarines – all being built indigenously, it said.
Vikrant, expected to be commissioned into service next year, will add superior combat capability, range and flexibility to the country’s naval might, Rajnath Singh had said in June.
“The combat capability, reach and flexibility will add formidable capabilities within the defence of our country and help secure India’s interests within the maritime domain,” Mr Singh said after visiting Vikrant, which was docked in Kerala’s Cochin Port at the time.”
Commissioning of the Indigenous carrier (IAC) next year are going to be a befitting tribute to 75 years of India’s independence,” Mr Singh said, adding it boasts of nearly 75 per cent nationally-sourced content – from design specs to steel utilized in construction, and from key weapons to sensors.
