Proof of indigenous capabilities INS Vikrant, China's activities in the Indian Ocean will get a befitting reply from the Indian Navy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant to the service of the nation at the Cochin Shipyard last day. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the whole of India is witnessing the sunrise of a new future on the coast of Kerala. This is a hail of India’s rising spirits on the world horizon. This is not only the first indigenous aircraft carrier, but also a floating fort on the sea. Everything has been designed and manufactured in India itself. The amount of electricity generated in it can light 5000 houses. Its flying deck is also bigger than two football fields. This new avatar of Vikrant who played his stellar role in the 1971 war is a humble tribute to our freedom fighters and brave soldiers along with the achievement of Amrit-Kaal. On this occasion, the Indian Navy has also decided to open all its branches to women
The Prime Minister also presented a new flag to the Indian Navy on the occasion. Now a new Navy flag inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji will fly in the sea. Prime Minister Modi also unveiled the new insignia of the Indian Navy. Now the red cross symbolizing slavery has been removed. The flag has the tricolor on the top left and the Ashoka symbol in golden color on a blue background on the side, with Satyameva Jayate written below. The construction of indigenous aircraft carrier is a special example of self-reliant India campaign. In this way a new maritime history of the naval force has been created. With this achievement, the Indian Navy has become one of the top three navies in the world.
The construction of INS Vikrant was started on 28 February 2009 at the Cochin Shipyard in Kochi. After the completion of the construction work, it was launched on 12 August 2013.
Its basin trial was conducted in December 2020, in which it fully met. It was launched on 4 August 2021 for sea trials, which was the first phase of its trials. The second phase of testing was completed in October 2021 and the third phase on 22 January 2022. Its final and fourth sea trials were started in May 2022, which was completed on 10 July 2022. In the fourth test, its strategic capability was extensively tested by the Navy with defense related equipment both at sea and at a distance. The tests also saw how powerful, durable and reliable the vessel is. Apart from this, its firepower was also seen. These tests proved that its induction into the Navy would add unprecedented capability to the country’s defense power and help secure India’s interests in the maritime domain.
INS Vikrant is India’s first state of the art aircraft carrier. About Rs 23,000 crore has been spent to build this warship. Its combat management system has been developed by Tata Power Strategic Engineer Division in association with Weapon and Electronics System Engineering of Russia and Mars. Cochin Shipyard as well as more than 500 Indian companies have helped in making it. Apart from this, about a hundred MSME companies were also involved in its construction. Different parts of this warship are made by different companies. This is a great example of Make in India. There was also a lot of contemplation and contemplation about the fighter planes to be deployed on it. Earlier there was talk of deploying light Tejas fighter planes on it, but there were some problems in it, then Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) made a plan and gave it to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Under which it is now developing a twin engine deck based fighter. Till then, MiG-29K class fighters will be deployed on it.
The flight deck of this aircraft carrier is about 1.10 lakh square feet, on which a large number of fighter aircraft can take off and land comfortably. On this, 36 to 40 number of fighter aircraft can be deployed at a time. The strike force of this aircraft carrier has a range of up to 1,500 km. It will be fitted with 64 Barak missiles capable of hitting the surface-to-air. INS Vikrant is fitted with powerful turbines from General Electric, which will give it a power of 1.10 lakh horsepower. Thus it is a very powerful aircraft carrier. This warship is equipped with the best automated machines, operations, ship navigation and security systems. Its length is 860 feet, depth is 84 feet and width is 203 feet. The total area of this ship is 2.5 acres. It has the ability to move fast, ripping the ocean waves at a speed of 52 kilometers per hour. it 15 at a time, Can travel 000 km. It can accommodate 196 naval officers, 1149 sailors and aircrew at a time. This ship with these qualities will significantly increase the strength of the Indian Navy in view of the increasing activities of China in the Indian Ocean.
