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Indigenous aircraft carrier to be launched at sea on August 12
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 1
The Indian Navy today announced that the sea-borne indigenously built aircraft carrier, named Vikrant, will be launched at sea on August 12. The carrier will carry a complement of fighters and helicopters. It is targeted for commissioning into the Navy by end of 2018, including its flight trials.

The under-construction indigenous aircraft carrier, named Vikrant.

Vice Chief of the Indian Navy, Vice-Admiral RK Dhowan, said: “About 75 per cent of the carrier has been erected on the dry dock at Kochi and that is correct readiness to launch at sea to complete the outfitting and carry on the trials”. In line with the Naval traditions that a woman launches a ship, Elizabeth Antony, the wife of the Defence Minister, will launch the warship at Kochi at a function.

India is the fifth country, after the US, UK, Russia and France, to attempt and build an aircraft carrier in the 40,000-tonne class. China has imported one from Ukraine, which is still undergoing tests.

It will be 40,000 tonnes and powered by four LM 2500 engines. A crew of 1,450 will be on board. The warship will be 260-metre-long and have breadth of 60 metres. The Russian origin MiG 29-K fighters and under-production Indian fighter, the Naval varient of the Light Combat Aircraft, will be based on its deck. It will also carry helicopters with anti-submarine capability and electronic warfare capability.

The fighter jets will have take-off runaway of 206 metres and with a ski-jump. The landing will be assisted by on-deck wires to stall the jets on landing. “The Indian Navy is looking to have three carrier battle groups (complete with smaller ships, submarines along the carrier),” Vice Admiral Dhowan said. One carrier each of the western and eastern seaboard and the third one is for the back-up.

The warship has an indigenous content of some 90 per cent in its body structure. The engine and its propulsion has some 60 per cent local content while weapons have only 30 percent localisation. The remaining parts have been sourced from Russia while the Italian company Fincantieri has helped in design of propulsion and its integration. The Steel Authority of India and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have produced the warship grade steel, which India earlier had to import. The gear-box has been produced in India and it has been the biggest learning experience.

Explaining why the warship is being launched at this stage, the Vice Admiral said: “The hull of the warship has a tonnage of 21,000 tonnes out of which 75 per cent is complete. The outfitting will be 11,000 tonnes and it will done now. The available draft near the dry dock also has to be factored in: “Even at present, pontoons are being set up under the warship to take it out of its location at the dry dock.