MoD Statement: Amidst chanting of hymns from the Atharva Veda, Vikrant,
India's first aircraft carrier, decommissioned on 31 January 1997, was
reborn today as Smt Elizabeth Antony, wife of the Defence Minister Shri AK
Antony, christened India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) as '
Vikrant'
meaning "courageous" or "victorious" in Sanskrit.
In a colourful ceremony filled with traditional pomp and fervour at the Cochin
Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Smt Antony launched 'Vikrant' in the presence of
Shri AK Antony, the Minister of Shipping, Shri GK Vasan, the Chief of Naval
Staff Admiral DK Joshi, the F-O-C in C Western Naval Command Vice Admiral
Shekhar Sinha, Commander-in-Chief Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral
Satish Soni, Chairman and Managing Director, CSL, Commodore (Retd)
K Subramaniam and other officials of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of
Shipping. In addition, a multitude of Naval officers, yard workers and a few
members of the
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the manufacturers
of the indigenous warship grade steel, were also present.
At the launch,
marking the end of Phase- I of the project, the imposing ramp
of the 37,500 tonne Short Take off but Assisted Recovery (STOBAR) Carrier
boasted the indigenous design and build capabilities of the country. The ship
has attained its designed length of about
260 m and is almost at its maximum
breadth of
60 m. The main landing strip is ready.
Over 80% of the structure, containing about 2300 compartments has been
fabricated, over 75% has been erected, all the major machinery, such as the
two LM2500 Gas Turbines developing a total power of 80 MW, the diesel
alternators capable of producing about 24 MW and the main gear box have
been fitted.
Soon after Vikrant
floated perfectly upright, she was launched out into the Ernakulam Channel in
a pontoon assisted precision manoeuvre. Vikrant was moved out of the building
dock to be positioned in the refitting dock where the next Phase of outfitting
will be completed.
Describing the occasion as a 'momentous' one, Shri Antony said," Today's
launching of the IAC marks just the first step in a long journey, but at the same
time, an important one." He said it was indeed a proud moment for the country
to witness our efforts at achieving self-reliance in the field of warship design and
construction, as only a very few advanced countries in the world possess the
capability to design and build aircraft carriers.
Antony said we must continue the process of strengthening indigenous capability
towards securing our maritime interests. 'Our Navy must continue to maintain
high operational readiness at all times to ward off any likely misadventure against
our national interests', he said. The Defence Minister urged the Indian industry
to participate whole-heartedly in our shipbuilding programmes and further
consolidate our strength in this field.
Speaking on the occasion, the Shipping Minister Shri GK Vasan said by
launching this great warship which is one of the most important ships for the
Indian Navy, Indian shipbuilding has demonstrated its technical capability and expertise.
The design and construction of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier was sanctioned
by the government in January 2003. The keel of the ship was laid on 28 Feb
2009 by Shri AK Antony. Vikrant marks a special feather in indigenous defence
capabilities- this being the first ever aircraft carrier to be designed by the
Directorate of Naval Design of the Indian Navy, the first warship to be built by
Cochin Shipyard Limited and the first warship to be built entirely using
indigenously produced steel. The construction of the ship is a truly pan Indian
effort with active participation of private and public enterprises.
The steel has come from SAIL's plants in Raurkela in Orissa, Bokaro in
Jharkand and Bhilai in Chattisgarh; the Main Switch Board, steering gear
and water tight hatches have been manufactured by Larsen and Toubro in
its plants in Mumbai and Talegaon; the high capacity air conditioning and
refrigeration systems have been manufactured in Kirloskar's plants in Pune;
most pumps have been supplied by Best and Crompton, Chennai; Bharat
Heavy Engineering Limited (BHEL) is supplying the Integrated Platform
Management System (IPMS); the massive gear box is supplied by Elecon in
Gujarat; the tens of thousands of electrical cable is supplied by Nicco industries
in Kokatta; Kolkatta is also where the ship's anchor chain cable is manufactured.
Vikrant will be capable of operating an aircraft mix of the Russian MiG-29K
and LCA (Navy) fighters being developed indigenously by HAL. Its helicopter
component will include the Kamov 31 and the indigenously developed ALH
helicopters. The ship's ability to sense and control a large air space around it
will be enabled by
modern C/D band Early Air Warning Radar, V/UHF Tactical
Air Navigational and Direction Finding systems, jamming capabilities over the
expected Electro Magnetic (EM) environment and Carrier Control Approach
Radars to aid air operations.
Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR SAM)
systems with Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and Close- In Weapon System (CIWS)
will form the protective suite of the ship. All weapon systems onboard the carrier
will be integrated through
an indigenous Combat Management System (CMS),
being manufactured by Tata Power systems. The ship's integration with Navy's
Network Centric Operations will provide force multiplication.
Design of this prestigious ship has been undertaken by the Directorate of
Naval Design (DND)of the Indian Navy. Created in 1956 as the Corps of Naval
Constructors, to realise the dream of being a builder's Navy through indigenisation,
DND has successfully designed over 17 different classes of warships, to which
around 90 ships have already been built within the country. The Delhi class
destroyers, with a displacement of about 7000 tonnes, were the biggest warships
designed by DND so far.
Designing of the Vikrant, at almost 40,000 tonnes
speaks of the maturing of the capabilities of DND and represents a feather in
the cap of the designers particularly as it is the first aircraft carrier of its size in
the world with some unique features such as Gas Turbine Propulsion.
The seamless hull and smooth lines of the ship stand as testimony to the high
production standards of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). CSL, a mini Ratna PSU,
has earned a reputation for quality construction and timely delivery.
Till now,
CSL had the distinction of building the largest ship in India i.e., 93,500 tonne
Aframax tankers. However, this complex integrated construction project enabled
by a Rs 200 Crores infrastructure augmentation plan involving large cranes,
workshops and heavy duty machinery has seen the shipyard maturing into a
competent warship builder.
Vikrant will now enter the second phase of construction which will see the
outfitting of the ship, fitment of various weapons and sensors, integration of
the gigantic propulsion system and integration of the aircraft complex (with
the assistance of M/s NDB of Russia). The ship will then undergo extensive
trials before she is handed over to the Indian Navy by around 2016-17.
About INS VIkrant
It may be recalled that at the time of attaining our Independence, our
visionary leaders saw the centrality of a powerful Navy and set us on the
right course by envisaging an aircraft carrier centred Indian Navy. INS Vikrant,
India's first aircraft carrier was acquired from Great Britain and commissioned
on 04 Mar 1961. In its 36 years of glorious service INS Vikrant was at the
centre of action in the 1971 operations for liberation of Bangladesh. Having
seen many years of service as a CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off but
Arrested Recovery) carrier working an angled deck and operating Sea Hawks,
Alizes and Seakings, INS Vikrant was transformed into a STOVL carrier to
operate Sea Harrier jump jets. INS Vikrant was decommissioned on 31 Jan
1997, after 36 years of glorious service under the Indian ensign. With the launch
of IAC, 'Vikrant' the Indian Navy is well on its way to demonstrate its comfort
with the practiced art of trapped landings and angled deck operations.
Livefist: PHOTOS: 1st Indian Aircraft Carrier 'Vikrant' Launched
pretty retarded, isn't it?
Sure China will be aiming to have atleast 4-5 A/C ASAP . MoD of India must aknowledge chinese Manufacturing abilities and must move ahead with one more.
