Indian
Navy created maritime history on 28 July 2022 by taking delivery of the
prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant from her builder Cochin
Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. Designed by Indian Navy's inhouse Directorate of
Naval Design (DND) and built by CSL, a Public Sector Shipyard under Ministry of
Shipping (MoS), the carrier is christened after her illustrious predecessor,
India's first aircraft carrier which played a vital role in the 1971 war.
Coinciding with the celebrations to commemorate 75th anniversary of India's
independence 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav',
the reincarnation of Vikrant is a true testimony to the country's zeal and
fervor in pursuing capability build up towards enhanced maritime security.
The
262 meter long carrier has a full displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes which
is much larger and advanced than her predecessor. The ship is powered by four
Gas Turbines totaling 88 MW power
and has a maximum speed of 28 knots. Built at an overall cost of close to Rs.
20,000 Crs, the project has been progressed in three Phases of contract between
MoD and CSL, concluded in May
2007, Dec 2014 and Oct 2019 respectively. The ship's keel was laid in Feb 2009,
followed by launching in Aug 2013. With an overall indigenous content of 76%,
IAC is a perfect example of the nation's quest for "Aatma Nirbhar
Bharat" and provides thrust to Government's 'Make in India'
initiative. With the delivery of Vikrant, India has joined a select group of
nations having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft
carrier.
Vikrant
has been built with high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship
navigation and survivability, and has been designed to accommodate an
assortment of fixed wing and rotary aircraft. The ship would be capable of
operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising of MiG-29K fighter
jets, Kamov-31 AEW, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenously
manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft, (LCA)
(Navy). Using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as STOBAR (Short Take- Off
but Arrested Landing), the IAC is equipped with a ski- jump for launching
aircraft, and a set of 'arrester wires' for their recovery onboard.
The
ship has large number of indigenous equipment and machinery, involving major
industrial houses in the country viz. BEL, BHEL, GRSE, Keltron, Kirloskar,
Larsen & Toubro, Wartsila India etc. as well as over 100 MSMEs. The
indigenisation efforts has also led to development of ancillary industries,
besides generation of employment opportunities and bolstering plough back
effect on economy, both locally as well as pan-India. A major spin-off of this
is the development and production of indigenous warship grade steel for the
ship through a partnership between Navy, DRDO and Steel Authority of India (SAIL),
which has enabled the country to become self-sufficient with respect to warship
steel. Today all the warships being built in the country are being manufactured
using indigenous steel.
Several
design iterations, including use of 3D Virtual Reality models and advanced
engineering software were used by the Directorate of Naval Design in shaping
the design of the carrier. CSL had also upgraded their shipbuilding
infrastructure as well as enhanced productivity skills during the building of
the ship.
Delivery
of Vikrant was marked by signing of acceptance documents on behalf of Indian
Navy by the Commanding Officer Designate of Vikrant, representatives of Naval
Headquarters and Warship Overseeing Team (Kochi) and by the Chairman and
Managing Director on behalf of Cochin Shipyard Ltd., in the presence of senior
officers of Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard.
Vikrant
has been delivered to the Indian Navy by CSL following extensive user
acceptance trials conducted between August 2021 and July 2022,
during which ship's performance, including hull, main propulsion, PGD,
auxiliary equipment, aviation facilities, weapon and sensors as well as sea
keeping and manoeuvring capabilities were proved satisfactory in accordance with
trial protocols and system parameters. The delivery of Vikrant is the
culmination of a long design, build and trials phase, during which both Indian
Navy and CSL had to overcome multitude of unprecedented technical and logistic
challenges including Covid-19 pandemic and changed geo-political scenario. The
successful delivery of the indigenous carrier, a major milestone activity and
historical event, is testimony to the dedicated efforts of large number of
stakeholders within Indian Navy, shipyard, industry, OEMs & MSMEs for over two decades.
The
Indigenous Aircraft Carrier would soon be commissioned into the Indian Navy as
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant which would bolster India's position in the
Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its quest for a blue water Navy.
