INS VISHAL - India's 2nd indigenous Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier
INS Vishal (“Immense”)will be the first supercarrier to be built in India. The proposed design of the second carrier features significant changes from INS Vikrant (“Indigenous Aircraft Carrier”), including an increase in displacement to over 65,000 tons and proposals to incorporate nuclear propulsion. An EMALS CATOBAR system is also under consideration, and could be used to launch heavier aircraft like larger fighters, AEW (airborne early-warning) aircraft and Mid-Air Refueling Tankers. Vishal 's proposed design would make India the third nation after United States and France to operate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Design plans were drawn up in 2001 to which funding was secured in 2003 and construction of the Vishal began in 2012. The INS Vishal project is headed by the Naval Design Bureau and the vessel specifications have been finalized.
The INS Vishal will follow her sister vessel, the INS Vikrant into carrier service in the next decade and sport flat-top flight deck.
In a landmark event India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was undocked at a simple ceremony at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi
The INS Vishal is the second of two new indigenous Indian Navy carrier designs currently under construction. The INS Vishal is following the INS Vikrant into service which is expected to be commissioned in 2017. Prior to these two endeavors, the Indian Navy relied largely on foreign types of British or Soviet/Russian origin, refitted extensively for the Indian Navy. For years. the Indian Navy made use of two ex-British Royal Navy carriers under the local names of INS Vikrant (R11) and INS Viraat (R22), the former has been decommissioned while INS Virat will be formally retired in 2016.
British BAe Sea Harrier Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) strike aircraft
A new indigenous initiative was announced in 1989 intended to stock the Indian Navy with a homegrown solution under the “Air Defence Ships” (ADS) project. However, economic hardship struck the nation and the project languished due to lack of priority. By 2000 economic troubles had subsided and the initiative was revived.
The new designs were designed to launch and recover Sea Harrier Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) strike aircraft. However, the Sea Harrier fleet has been reduced to under a dozen aircraft and a more flexible aircraft carrier solution was envisaged under the new initiative. The class would include the initial 40,000 ton INS Vikrant (not to be confused with the original R11) and her sister, the 65,000 ton INS Vishal. Both would be capable of launching the newer Mikoyan MiG-29K Fulcrum naval fighters and operate helicopter types as required.
INS Viraat on patrol duty in the high-seas
The Vikrant has a STOBAR configuration (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) to which a “ski jump” ramp was fixed to the bow end of the ship for the required short-take off requirement. As of 2015 only Russian and Indian carriers employ this technique. The Naval Tejas and Mikoyan MiG-29K are STOBAR enabled fighters. The Vishal, however, will be drastically different in its scope and function as far as take-off and landing process in concerned, it will be equipped with a CATOBAR configuration (Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) – in essence a “flat top” deck more in line with American Naval carriers. This particular configuration would now make it possible to launch heavier and larger fixed-wing aircraft such as MiG-29Ks. Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platforms, which would give the Indian Navy a considerable edge and act as a force multiplier in the South Asian and Pacific region – particularly checkmating Chinese maritime ambitions.
General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbine Engine
At the end of the project, the Vishal will be a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier fitted with 4 x General Electric LM2500+ series gas turbine engines delivering to two shafts. Top speed will be 28 knots in ideal conditions with a range out to 7,500 nautical miles. Dimensions include a running length of 860 feet with a 200 foot beam and 28 foot draught. The crew complement is expected to be 1,400 officers, sailors, service personnel, airmen and mechanics .The bread and butter of INS Vishal will be its air wing comprising of 29 fixed-wing aircraft and 10 rotary-wing helicopters. Eventually, the plan is to equip the vessel with nuclear propulsion, India already has nuclear miniaturization technology which was developed painstakingly for the Arihant class of attack submarines.LCA Tejas Navy version will see service on the Vishal
The primary mount is expected to be the Russian Mikoyan MiG-29K Fulcrum, the navalized form of the successful land-based air superiority fighter fighter. These will be supplemented or replaced by the indigenous HAL Tejas Navy. However, the Indian Navy is also interested in operating heavier aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-33, Boeing F/A-18 Hornet or French Dassault Rafale Marine. A preliminary agreement has been signed on a government-to-government basis forThe Grumman E-2 Hawkeye has been mentioned for the fixed-wing AEW role as has a modified AEW version of the Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor helicopter. Helicopter types expected include the Russian Kamov Ka-31 series (Airborne Early Warning (AEW)) or the British Westland Sea King (Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) – both navalized for operations at sea/over water.Oto Melara 127/64 LW Alleggerito lightweight Naval Gun
The vessel will be defended by a network of 4 x 76mm Otobreda guns, surface-to-air missile launchers and a Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) such as the 20mm American “Phalanx”. A selex RAN-40L L-band early warning radar (EWR) will be part of the extensive and advanced sensor and processing system.At this writing (2012), the arrival of the INS Vishal is still some time away as the Indian Navy commits to other higher profile requirements.Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
The launch date for the vessel is tentatively scheduled for sometime in 2017 with sea trials to be undertaken in 2020 and formal commissioning in 2022. This will push existing carriers such as the INS Viraat into service beyond 2015. The INS Vikramaditya – a converted Kiev-class carrier – has been commissioned as a more viable and modern alternative solution for the Indian Navy until the arrival of the INS Vikrant and INS Vishal.INS VISHAL Specifications
Designation: INS Vishal
Classification Type: Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier (Rumored)
Ship Class: Vikrant-class
Number in Class: 2
Operators: Indian Navy
Ships-in-Class
INS Vikrant; INS Vishal
Dimensions:
Length: 860ft (262.13m)
Beam: 200ft (60.96m)
Draught: 28ft (8.53m)
Performance:
Surface Speed: 28kts (32mph)
Range: 8,600miles (13,840km)
Armament Suite:
4 x Otobreda 76mm dual purpose cannons
Surface-to-Air Missile Launchers
Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
Structure:
Complement: 1,400
Surface Displacement: 65,000 tons
Power plant:
Engine(s): 4 x General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines generating power to 2 x shafts.
Air Arm:
The air arm was likely to be hal tejas naval varient, and according to rfi issued earlier its was the contendors of mmrca, but most like it may carry RAFALE onboard, with E-2D hawk eye , and potent ASW helicopters (30 A-10H 3 misc approx)
