INS Vikrant is the biggest ship made in India

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The indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) has been given the name of its decommissioned sibling INS Vikrant (1997). This IAC will be commissioned next year. This aircraft is a shining example of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

About

INS Vikrant is capable of carrying a total 30 aircrafts. It is 263 m long and 63 m broad. The gigantic vessel has 15 decks and displacement (weight) of 40,000 tonnes. It is expected to touch up to a speed of 30 knots (approximately 55 kmph) as it is set in motion by four gas turbines. Its endurance is 7,500 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots (32 kmph).

It is indeginously made up of 75 percent indigenous content, from design to steel used in construction, to key weapons and sensors.

The IAC can carry 1500 personnel and has 2300 compartments. It is built by Cochin Shipyard Limited and it is expected to fully handover it to the Indian Navy in 2022.

The project was approved in 2002 by the Cabinet Committee on Security, while its phase-I contract was signed in 2007. Its keel laying was in 2009, followed by launch in 2013. Its phase-II contract was signed in 2017 and the phase-III contract in 2019.

Barak LR SAM and AK-630 are the shipborne weapons and MFSTAR and RAN-40L 3D radars as sensors are present on the aircraft. The vessel has a Shakti EW Suite.

It has a pair of runways and a landing strip ‘'short take off but arrested recovery’(STOBAR) system to control aircraft. The vessel depends largely on Russian technology and has an integrated platform management system organized by Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd.

It is estimated that India needs three aircraft carriers - one each in Western and Eastern naval commands, while the third can be docked for maintenance, if needed.