Delivery of INS Vikrant to be delayed once again!

Kochi, May 26: With the coronavirus crisis affecting the defence sector, it is now being reported that the arrival of the INS Vikrant - the Indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) built in India is once again delayed. The navy says trials are unlikely to begin before September/October.

 

 

Earlier, it was postponed in the first phase of the warship’s trials named basin trials. It was originally decided to kick-start on March 12 at Cochin Shipyard Ltd, where INS Vikrant has been constructed. However, construction delays caused that to be moved back to April.

 

According to the reports, the warship was scheduled to be ready by the end of 2018. However, the minister of state for defence, Sripad Naik, stated, "Ship’s targeted delivery was affected due to delay in supply of aviation equipment from Russia".

 

In his Navy Day press meeting last December, the Navy Chief, Admiral Karambir Singh, said the navy would have a fully operational INS Vikrant before the end of 2022. However, due to the ongoing crisis, the delivery is now pushed back to 2023 and even further delays might be possible.

 

It is one of two planned vessels in the new "Vikrant-class" of surface warships and has seen construction begin in 2009. The Indian Navy’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant is currently under the third phase of construction.

 

INS Vikrant is a 260 meters long and 60 meters wide vessel displacing 37,500-tonnes. The maximum speed of the ship is announced at 28 knots, with a range of 7,500 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots. INS Vikrant is set to receive a large crew complement composed of 160 officers and 1,400 sailors. The aircraft carrier will be able to accommodate up to 30 fighters and helicopters, including Mig-29K fighters jets and Ka-31 helicopters.