INS VIKRANT
Source: The Indian Express
Context
The commissioning of the Navy's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1) as INS Vikrant by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday will mark a defining moment for India.
In its new Avatar, Vikrant will enhance India's standing as a blue water Navy a maritime force with global reach and capability to operate on the high seas far from the country's shores.
From Vikrant to Vikrant
- The original INS Vikrant, with pennant number R11, was the Indian Navy's first aircraft carrier.
- It was purchased by India from the UK in 1957 and was commissioned in the Indian Navy as INS Vikrant in 1961.
- The ship, which had less than half the displacement of the new Vikrant and was 50 m shorter in length, led the Naval blockade of East Pakistan during the 1971 war.
- It was decommissioned in 1997.
- The Sanskrit word Vikrant means Courageous or steeping beyond, which appears in various scriptures including the first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
- The same chapter contains the word viraat, meaning magnanimous, which became the name of the Navy's second, now decommissioned, aircraft carrier.
- The new Vikrant will carry the motto of its predecessor, Jayema sam yudhi sprudhah an expression that appears in the Rig Veda and means " We conquer those who fight us in war".
- When fully operational, INS Vikrant will be India's airbase on the blue oceans and act as a powerful deterrent against enemies.
Design and construction
- Vikrant has been built at an approximate cost of Rs. 20, 000 crores.
- Due to the indigenous components and construction, 80-85 per cent of the cost has been ploughed back into the Indian economy, the Navy has said.
- The design and construction of the IAC were sanctioned in January 2003.
- The ship's keel was laid in 2009 and it was launched on August 12, 2013.
- The readiness of the propulsion and power generation equipment was tested in November 2020 and four sea trials took place between August 2021 and July 2022.
- The ship was delivered to the Navy on July 28.
- When fully operational, INS Vikrant will be capable of operating an Air Wing consisting of 30 Aircraft.
- It has a length of 262 meters and a width of 62 meters and is powered by four Gas Turbines with 88 MW power.
Key features
Performance
It has a top seep of 28 Knots, a Cruising speed of 18 Knots and an Endurance of 7, 500 Nautical Miles.
Space
over 2, 400 compartments Designed for a crew of around 1, 600 including 200 officers, the 18-floor vessel has special cabins for women Naval officers and sailors.
16-Bed Hospital
The medical complex on board has a 16-bed hospital along with a modular emergency operation theatre, physiotherapy clinic, Intensive Care Unit, Pathology set up, radiology wing with a CT scanner and X-ray machines, a dental complex, isolation ward and telemedicine facilities.
Huge Aviation Hanger
The aviation hanger is as big as two Olympic-sized pools that can accommodate around 20 Aircraft.
3, 000 Rotis/ Hour
A well-equipped kitchen on board can serve a diverse menu to the crew. It has a unit that can make 3, 000 Rotis an hour important given the ship's crew is 1, 600 strong.
STOBAR
Using An aircraft-operation mode known as Short Takeoff But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), INS Vikrant is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft and a set of three arrester wires for their recovery on board.
Conclusion
Fight trials are set to begin by November and the carrier is expected to be fully operational by mid-2023, vice chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral S N Gormade, has said.
