News Highlight
According to the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff, the commissioning of the nation’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, Vikrant, will improve the peace, security, and stability of the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific Region.
Key Takeaway
- The prime minister will commission Vikrant in Kochi in September.
- The Navy has carried out five sets of trials since 2021, and they were highly successful.
INS Vikrant IAC-1
- INS Vikrant, also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1, is an aircraft carrier constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy.
- It is the first aircraft carrier to be built in India.
- It is named ‘Vikrant’ as a tribute to India’s first aircraft carrier, Vikrant.
- Designed by: the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND).
- Speed: Propelled by four gas turbines, it can attain a top speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.
- The IAC-1, the biggest warship made indigenously, has an overall length of 263 m and a breadth of 63 m.
- It can carry 30 assorted aircraft, including combat jets and helicopters.
Earlier aircraft in India
- India has had aircraft carriers earlier, too—but those were built either by the British or the Russians.
- The ‘INS Vikramaditya’, commissioned in 2013 and currently the Navy’s only aircraft carrier, started as the Soviet-Russian warship ‘Admiral Gorshkov’.
- ‘INS Vikrant’ and the ‘INS Viraat’: India’s two earlier carriers, originally the British-built ‘HMS Hercules’ and ‘HMS Hermes’.
- These two warships were commissioned into the Navy in 1961 and 1987, respectively.
Significance of India having an aircraft carrier
- Powerful Marine Asset:
- An aircraft carrier is one of the nation’s most potent marine assets, enhancing a Navy’s ability to travel far from its home shores to carry out air dominance operations.
- Project Nation Strength
- Many experts consider having an aircraft carrier essential to being considered a “blue water navy” — one that can project a nation’s strength and power across the high seas.
- Capital Ship:
- An aircraft carrier generally leads as the capital ship of a carrier strike/battle group.
Significance of Warships Built in India
- Demonstrated self-reliance:
- Only a few countries can build aircraft carriers, and India has joined this prestigious club.
- India has demonstrated the capability and self-reliance to build warships that are among the most advanced and sophisticated warships in the world.
- A Way to Defence Indigenisation:
- According to the Navy, over 76 per cent of the materials and equipment on board IAC-1 are indigenous.Â
- More Employment:
- More than 50 Indian manufacturers were directly involved in the project.Â
- About 2,000 Indians received direct employment on board IAC-1 daily.Â
- Over 40,000 others were employed indirectly.
Content Source: The Hindu