'True reflection of Made in India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat': India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant set sails for maiden trials
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New Delhi, Aug 4: In a huge boost to Made in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative laid down by PM Narendra Modi, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant - the largest and most complex warship India has ever built - set off on its maiden sea trials on Wednesday.
"Proud & historic day for India as the reincarnated #Vikrant sails for her maiden sea trials today, in the 50th year of her illustrious predecessor’s key role in victory in the #1971war Largest & most complex warship ever to be designed & built in India. Many more will follow," the Indian Navy said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the Vikrant's maiden sea trials a "true testimony to our unwavering commitment to 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'".
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"Maiden sea sortie of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant is a true testimony to our unwavering commitment to 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in Defence. Realisation of this historic milestone, regardless of Covid, shows true dedication & commitment of all stakeholders. A proud moment for India," he said.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has hailed the launching of sea trials of the aircraft carrier. It is India’s most complex warship to have been indigenously built by Cochin Shipyard for the Indian Navy. "This is a true reflection of the Make in India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiatives of the PM Narendra Modi. The Minister congratulated Cochin Shipyard and Indian Navy for making the country proud," the Minister.
INS Vikrant:
The basic design of the IAC has been developed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design of the Indian Navy and the entire detailed engineering, construction and system integration is undertaken by Cochin Shipyard Limited. The shipyard carried out the detailed engineering of the ship using advanced software which enabled the designer to get a complete 3D view of the compartments of the ship. It is the first time in the country that a ship of the size of an Aircraft Carrier is completely modeled in 3D and production drawings extracted from the 3D model.
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The IAC is the largest war ship built in the country having a displacement of about 40,000 tonnes. The ship is a mammoth steel structure of 21,500 tonnes of special grade steel developed indigenously and used in Indian Naval Ships for the first time. The enormity of the ship can be gauged from the appx 2000 kms of cabling, 120 kms of piping and the 2300 compartments available onboard.
The Aircraft Carrier is a mini floating city, with a flight deck area covering the size of two football fields. The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is 262 m long, 62 m at the widest part and height of 59 m including the superstructure. ‘Vikrant’ has a top speed of around 28 knots and cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles. 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.