Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant handed over to the Indian Navy

New Delhi: Indian Navy has taken over the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant from Cochin Shipyard. This is a historic event for the Navy because INS Vikrant is the first indigenously built aircraft carrier. Besides, this has made India join the ranks of countries with the capability to build aircraft carriers. It is expected that INS Vikrant will be officially inducted into the Navy on August 15.

The construction work of this warship, with a weight of 45 thousand tons, length of 262 meters, the width of 62 meters and a height of 59 meters, was started in 2009. This warship has 2,300 compartments and can accommodate 1700 navy personnel. It also includes special cabins for women naval officers. Also, this warship can travel at a speed of about 28 knots. INS Vikrant can travel up to 7,500 nautical miles.

MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov Ka-31 helicopters and MH-60R multi-role helicopters will be deployed on this warship. About 20 thousand crore rupees were spent to construct this aircraft carrier. INS Vikrant’s tests were conducted from August 2021 to July 2022. The warship was handed over to the Navy after successfully completing the fourth and final phase of trials. This warship was built in Cochin Shipyard and 76 per cent of its parts are of Indian manufacture. The Navy has said this warship perfectly exemplifies the ‘Self Reliant India’ scheme. The Navy has also expressed confidence that INS Vikrant’s success will further accelerate the government’s Make in India initiative. It is being said that the warship will be officially inducted into the Navy on August 15, independence day.

INS Vikrant’s participation will greatly enhance the capabilities of the Indian Navy. Along with patrolling the country’s vast maritime regions, the INS Vikrant will effectively establish the Indian Navy’s much-needed dominance in this area. The attention of international powers has turned to the Indian Ocean region, and major countries worldwide have realised that this region’s domination will be crucial for the security of their interests in the future. In such a situation, the role of the Indian Navy in this area becomes vital. As India’s trade grows, India needs a ‘blue water navy,’ i.e. a deep-sea capability to maintain its natural influence in the region along with commercial security.

In such a situation, another aircraft carrier warship like ‘INS Vikramaditya’, currently in the fleet of the Indian Navy, was urgently needed. This will increase the edge of the Indian Navy tremendously. Meanwhile, considering India will need another aircraft carrier soon, work has begun on a fully indigenously built Vishal.