India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard will join the naval fleet in 2022, coinciding with the 75th year of India’s Independence, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after reviewing the progress of its construction.
About Vikrant
- Basin trials of the vessel being built by Cochin Shipyard were completed in November 2020, but travel restrictions put the brakes on its preparations for sea trials.
- The vessel, to be named Vikrant after the decommissioned maiden carrier of the Navy, will have an air component of 30 aircraft, comprising MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 airborne early warning helicopters and the soon-to-be-inducted MH-60R multi-role helicopter, besides the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters.
- With an overall length of 263 metre and a breadth of 63 metre, it is the largest vessel made in India. The towering vessel has a total of 15 decks and a displacement of 40,000 tonnes.
- It is expected to have a top speed of 30 knots (approximately 55 kmph) and is propelled by four gas turbines.
- The shipborne weapons include Barak LR SAM and AK-630, while it has MFSTAR and RAN-40L 3D radars as sensors. The vessel has a Shakti EW Suite.
(Source: The Hindu)
