Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘Vikrant’

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘Vikrant’

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Defence and Security

In news  Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways has recently praised the launching of sea trials of indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’. 

• Vikrant is India’s most complex warship to have been indigenously built by Cochin Shipyard for the Indian Navy. 

• Cochin Shipyard Limited is the largest public sector shipyard and the only shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. 

About Vikrant

• The launching of the IAC in Aug 2013 had catapulted the nation into the elite League of Nations capable of designing and building an Aircraft Carrier.
•  It is the first time in the country that a ship of the size of an Aircraft Carrier is completely modeled in 3D and production drawings extracted from the 3D model.
• The IAC is the largest warship built in the country having a displacement of about 40,000 tonnes.
• The Aircraft Carrier is a mini floating city, with a flight deck area covering the size of two football fields.
• INS Vikrant, is likely to be commissioned in 2022. 
• At present, India has only one aircraft carrier, the Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya.
• The vessel is named Vikrant after the decommissioned maiden carrier of the Navy.
• It will have an air component of 30 aircraft, comprising MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 airborne early warning helicopters and the soon-to-be-inducted MH-60R multi-role helicopter, besides the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters.
• The shipborne weapons include Barak LR SAM and AK-630, while it has MFSTAR and RAN-40L 3D radars as sensors. 
• It has a pair of runways and a ‘short take off but arrested recovery’ system to control aircraft operations.

Significance

• The combat capability, reach and versatility of the aircraft carrier will add formidable capabilities in the defence and help secure India’s interests in the maritime domain.
• It would offer an incomparable military instrument with its ability to project air power over long distances.

News Source: PIB