Janjivan Bureau /New Delhi : India’s biggest ever indigenous military project – the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant – was commissioned on Friday at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) Kochi, Kerala.
India is now the sixth country to make a warship bigger than 40,000 tonnes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after the commissioning of the warship, termed the INS Vikrant as “important landmark” and added: “It’s not just a warship, it’s the outcome of 21st century India’s work and determination.”
Earlier, Modi unveiled the new Naval ensign – the flag that is hoisted atop all warships, ground stations and naval air bases.
The red coloured St Georges Cross has been removed. The Tricolour remains at the left top corner. The Ashoka emblem is retained. The naval anchor is back on the ensign. The Ashok Emblem sits stop the naval anchor. It’s encircled on octagonal seal paying tribute to Maratha ruler Shivaji and his naval force.
After the commissioning, PM Modi said: “If we face challenges, INS Vikrant is the answer. It is the sign of self-reliant India. Howsoever, big the challenges, India can complete the target when we are determined.”
The 45,000 tonne warship will expand the combat arc of the Navy. This will be second carrier in the Naval fleet. The other one, Russian origin INS Vikramaditya, has been operating for the past ten years.
Russian made MiG 29K jets –already in the Naval fleet — will be based on its deck and also specialised submarine hunting helicopters.
The INS Vikrant, once deployed, will lead the carrier battle group at sea. It will expand Indian Navy’s arc of ‘surveillance’, provide more attack options at sea while having the ability to match latest warships. Besides own radars, the INS Vikrant will get feed from satellite Rukmini, surveillance planes like the Boeing P8-I and Drones like the Predator.
The Navy has already announced it will start trials for landing and taking off fighter jets in November. The Long Range Surface to Air Missiles – the Barak – are also to be fitted.
Sources said the Vikrant was expected to be operationally deployed in eight months or so from now.
The Vikrant has been built with state-of-the-art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in the maritime history of India. The indigenous aircraft carrier is named after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first aircraft carrier which had played a vital role in the 1971 war.
Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau has designed it. It has a large number of indigenous equipment and machinery, involving major industrial houses in the country as well as over 100 MSMEs.
INS Vikrant’s flight deck will be STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration with a ski-jump. A he fighter jet will approach deck at 240 kms per hour. A set of three, ribbed- steel ‘arrestor wires’ – each is one inch thick—will pop up across the 60 metre wide deck. The undercarriage of the jet has a tail hook, that gets ‘arrested’ in wires and brings the aircraft to stop within 90 metres of touch down. For taking-off, there is a 14-degree inclined ramp shaped like ski jump to give it a lift.
“Fighter jet trials will commence in November this year,” Indian Navy officials said a press conference last week.
Earlier, at the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, said: “The Vikrant is an icon of country’s power and determination. It will increase capability of Indian Navy”.
“Vikrant is an assurance for our friends and we want free open inclusive Indo-Pacific,” the Defence Minister said.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said the Navy looks to be totally self-reliant by the time the country celebrates 100 years of independence.
Chairman and Managing Director Cochin Shipyard Madhu Nair said the warship is a representation what the nation can accomplish.
