Aircraft carrier IAC Vikrant returns after sea trials

After a five-day sea trial, the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant returned to shore to put the 40,000-tonne warship through its paces. The IAC Vikrant, which cost about 23,000 crore to build, sailed from Kochi on August 4 for critical sea trials ahead of its expected induction into the Indian Navy in August next year.

On the successful completion of the trial, Vice Admiral AK Chawla said it is indeed a “historic moment for the country”.

“We are going back to Kochi after five days of trials at sea. We’re going back with a great sense of satisfaction. This has been possible with dedicated teamwork,” Vice Admiral was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

During the trials, the navy stated that the system parameters were good. During the exercise, the ship’s performance was evaluated, including the hull, main propulsion, Power Generation and Distribution (PGD), and auxiliary equipment.

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Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command, reviewed the trials.

The aircraft carrier is 262 metres long, 62 metres wide at its widest point, and 59 metres tall when the superstructure is included. There are a total of 14 decks, with five in the superstructure.

MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 helicopters, and MH-60R multi-role helicopters will be used by the warship. It can reach a high speed of roughly 28 knots and cruise at 18 knots, with a range of about 7,500 nautical miles.

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The ship features approximately 2,300 compartments and is meant for a crew of around 1,700 people, with gender-sensitive sleeping quarters for female officers. The ship has been built to support a variety of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, with a high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation, and survival.

With the delivery of Vikrant, India will join a small group of countries that can design and build an aircraft carrier on their own. It will also help the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ drive gain traction. The IAC’s delivery will also help India’s position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its goal for a blue-water navy.

India currently has only one aircraft carrier – INS Vikramaditya.