On Wednesday, sea trials for India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier started. It will be named INS Vikrant once it is commissioned.
As the reincarnated Vikrant sails for her maiden sea trials in the 50th year. Her illustrious predecessor has an important role in winning the 1971 war. The Indian Navy labeled it a “proud and historic day for India.”
It further added that the aircraft carrier’s indigenous construction is a shining example of the country’s ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India Initiative’.
Vikrant is being built at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL). It is a public sector company under the Ministry of Shipping. The company was designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND).
The first attempt by the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard to design and build an aircraft carrier indigenously is a leading example. The nation’s drive for AtmaNirbhar Bharat has more than 76 percent indigenous content.
It is 262 meters long, 62m wide at its widest point. It heights up to 59m including the superstructure. There are a total of 14 decks, with five in the superstructure.
The ship contains around 2,300 compartments, with specialized rooms for female officers. It is also meant for a crew of around 1,700 people.
Vikrant has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots, with a range of about 7,500 nautical miles. It was designed with a high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation, and survivability.
It can take a variety of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The ship has reached the trials phase after the majority of the ship’s construction tasks are complete.
In November 2020, the readiness of the ship’s propulsion and power generation equipment, systems were evaluated in port. It was a part of Basin Trials.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the carrier’s construction progress during a visit to the ship on June 25 this year. The launch of sea trials was delayed due to the second wave of Covid.
They have now begun with gratitude to the concentrated and dedicated efforts of several workers, original equipment manufacturers, engineers, overseers, inspectors, designers, and the ship’s crew, and all others who had dedicated their hearts and souls to the ship’s readiness for sea trials.
This is a significant historical event and a big milestone activity.
The Navy said that reaching this milestone is significant. Since it has achieved “barring the current pandemic challenges and imponderables.”
The shipyard has around 550 Indian companies registered, including about 100 MSMEs. The Indian Navy’s shipbuilding program is well-positioned to provide the needed ‘Economic Stimulus,’ with 44 ships and submarines on order. All of these will be built in India, according to the Indian Navy.
