INS Vikrant, India’s First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Undergoing Air Certification and Flight Integration Trials

INS Vikrant: it is the name of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. INS Vikrant is a significant asset for the Indian Navy and plays a crucial role in enhancing India’s maritime capabilities. The INS Vikrant has been designed and built in India, marking a significant milestone in the country’s defense manufacturing sector. INS Vikrant is also Important for UPSC Prelims Exam and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 3- Internal Security, Development of Indigenous technology including in defence manufacturing sector).

INS Vikrant in News

The INS Vikrant Carrier is currently undergoing Air Certification and Flight Integration Trials to achieve a ‘Combat ready’ state as soon as possible. These trials involve testing the compatibility and performance of both Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing aircraft.

• A significant milestone was achieved on 6th February 2023 when the maiden day landing of the MiG-29K and the indigenous LCA (Navy) was successfully accomplished.
• Subsequently, day and night landing trials have been conducted for all helicopters in the Naval inventory.
• Continuing the focus on Aviation Trials, the Indian Navy has achieved another historic feat by conducting the maiden night landing of the MiG-29K on 24th May 2023.
• This remarkable achievement, achieved within a span of three months since the first day landing, showcases the determination, skill, and professionalism of the Indian Navy, the crew of INS Vikrant, and the Naval Pilots involved in the trials.

INS Vikrant Details

INS Vikrant is India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. INS Vikrant has been built with state of the art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in maritime history of India.

• Manufacturing: INS Vikrant is designed by Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
• Key Features: The 262.5 m long and 61.6 m wide Vikrant displaces approx 43,000 T, having a maximum designed speed of 28 Knots with endurance of 7,500 Nautical Miles.
  • The INS Vikrant ship has around 2,200 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,600 including women officers and sailors.
  • The Vikrant carrier is designed with a very high degree of automation for machinery operations, ship navigation and survivability.
  • The INS Vikrant carrier is equipped with the latest state of the art equipment and systems.
• Capabilities: The ship is capable of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising of MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, 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 Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), INS Vikrant is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft, and a set of ‘arrester wires’ for their recovery onboard.

Significance of INS Vikrant

• Major Step to AtmaNirbharta: INS Vikrant showcased the ‘Aatmanirbhar’ credentials during ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
  • INS Vikrant is also a real testimony to the Nation’s resolve for self-reliance and ‘Make in India’.
• Strengthening Maritime Security Capabilities in the IOR: a true testament to the country’s zeal and fervour in pursuing capability build up towards enhanced maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Global Recognition: With the commissioning of INS Vikrant, India has entered into a select band of Nations having niche capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier.
• Employment Generation: With 76% indigenous content, construction of INS Vikrant has resulted in direct employment generation for over 2,000 employees of CSL.
  • In addition, it has resulted in indirect employment generation for approx 12,500 employees for over 550 OEMs, sub-contractors, ancillary industries and over 100 MSMEs as well, thereby bolstering plough back effect on economy.

INS Vela- Fourth Scorpene Class Submarine

INS Vela- Fourth Scorpene Class Submarine

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