Kochi: Sea trials of indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ designed by Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design(DND) began here today. The Ministry of Defence stated today that and the ship entered the trials phase as most of the ship construction activities have been completed.
It may be mentioned that readiness of ship’s propulsion and power generation equipment was tested in harbour as part of Basin Trials on November 20, 2020. Progress of construction of the Carrier was reviewed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to the ship on June 25, 2021.
Also read: India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier to be commissioned next year
The IAC is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited(CSL), a public sector shipyard under Ministry of Shipping. It has more than 76% indigenous content and this has been a maiden attempt of the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.
IAC ‘Vikrant’ is 262 metre long, 62 metre at the widest part and height of 59 metre including the superstructure. There are 14 decks in all, including five in the superstructure. The ship has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1700 people, including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers. The ship has been designed with a very high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability. It has a top speed of around 28 knots and cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles. The ship can accommodate an assortment of fixed wing and rotary aircraft.
“Though the commencement of Sea Trials was delayed due to the 2nd wave of COVID, with concentrated and dedicated efforts of large number of workmen, OEMs, engineers, overseers, inspectors, designers and the ship’s crew, who had put their heart and soul towards the ship’s readiness for sea trials,” the Ministry of Defence stated, adding that this was a major milestone activity and historical event. “Reaching this milestone is significant as they have been achieved barring the current pandemic challenges and imponderables. During the maiden sailing, ship’s performance, including hull, main propulsion, PGD and auxiliary equipment would be closely watched,” it stated.
With the delivery of IAC, India would join a select group of nations with the capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier, which will be a real testimony to the ‘Make in India’ thrust of the Indian Government.
The Indigenous construction of Aircraft Carrier has led to growth in indignous design and construction capabilities besides development of large number of ancillary industries, with employment opportunities for 2000 CSL personnel and about 12000 employees in ancillary industries. Over 76% indigenous content towards procurement of equipment, besides work by CSL and their subcontractors is being directly invested back into the Indian economy. Around 550 Indian firms including about 100 MSMEs are registered with CSL, who are providing various services for construction of IAC.
Indian Navy’s ship building programme is rightly poised to provide requisite ‘Economic Stimulus’, with 44 ships & submarines on order being built indigenously, the Ministry stated.
– global bihari bureau
