India’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant Successfully Completes Fourth Phase Of Its Sea Trials

India’s first-ever 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) dubbed Vikrant completed the fourth phase of sea trials on Sunday. IAC Vikrant is so far the largest as well as the most complex warship built in the country. In this trial, major systems and equipment, including leading aviation equipment were examined. The delivery is targeted for 22 July followed by the commissioning of IAC Vikrant on 22 August to celebrate “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.

The Indigenous construction and design of the aircraft carrier carried out by the country’s navy and Cochin Shipyard Ltd is a brilliant example of the nation’s quest for its “AatmaNirbhar Bharat” and our “Make in India Initiative” with over 76% of indigenous content. This has contributed to India’s growth in indigenous construction and design capabilities, besides the rise in the number of ancillary industries, with opportunities for more than 2000 CSL personnel and 12000 employees in these industries.

The construction of the warship cost approximately Rs 23,000 crore and it propelled our country, India, into a select group of nations that have state-of-the-art facilities to build aircraft carriers. The warship is expected to operate Kamov-31 helicopters, MiG-29K fighter jets, and MH-60R multirole helicopters.

IAC Vikrant boasts more than 2,300 compartments. It can hold about 1,700 crew members and has specialized cabins for women officers. This warship can display top speed of approximately 28 knots and a speed of almost 18 knots with an endurance capacity of nearly 7,500 nm.

India till now has one aircraft carrier named INS Vikramaditya.

References: India Today, News18, Times Now 

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Source: Maritime Shipping News