INS Vikrant sea trials take it one step closer to its commissioning

With the navy confident about the ship's abilities during first 2 trials, Vikrant is now sailing out to undertake complex manoeuvres to establish readings of how the ship performs in various condition

After hosting two successive high profile visits – by President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu – within a span of less than two weeks, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier (IAC-1), INS Vikrant, is heading out to sea for its third set of sea trials. The carrier was built at Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

In her first sea trials last August, INS Vikrant established the smooth functioning of its propulsion system, navigational suite and basic aircraft carrier operations.

In her second sea trials in October-November, various machinery trials and flight trials were conducted along with various seamanship evolutions.

During the second set of sea trials, INS Vikrant spent ten days out at sea, thereby proving its sustenance capability.

With the navy having gained confidence in the ship’s abilities during the first two sea trials, INS Vikrant is now sailing out to undertake complex manoeuvres to establish specific readings of how the ship performs in various conditions. In addition, various sensor suites of the ship would also be tested.

Scientists from the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory based at Visakhapatnam would also be embarked during the trials.  

The NSTL scientists would be checking the installation and functioning of underwater weapons and associated systems, such as underwater mines, torpedoes, fire control systems, weapon launchers, targets and decoys. 

“The IAC has been a success story on numerous counts, be it the case of Atmanirbharta, wherein 76 per cent of the equipment is indigenously sourced; or the close engagement between the design teams of the Indian Navy and M/s Cochin Shipyard Limited,” stated the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in an official press release on Sunday.

However the MoD avoided mention of the time and cost overruns that have plagued the construction of INS Vikrant. It is being delivered about six years late and at a cost of about Rs 20,000 crore instead of the sanctioned Rs 3,261 crore. 

The Indian Navy’s long experience of operating aircraft carriers is evident from the fact that INS Vikrant has been able to carry out basic flying operations from its very first outing to sea. 

That experience comes from operating aircraft carriers ever since 1961, when the first INS Vikrant was bought from the UK’s Royal Navy. In 1987, with the Vikrant nearing retirement, the navy inducted a second carrier, INS Viraat, built by Vickers-Armstrong, UK. At present, the Indian Navy operates a single aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, which was bought from Russia. 

The 40,000-tonne INS Vikrant operates a mix of aircraft, with its strike power predominantly coming from Russian MiG-29K/KUB fighters

After INS Vikrant joins the fleet next year, the navy is planning a second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-2), to follow INS Vikrant. It is believed that the IAC-2 will be named INS Vishal.

The 40,000-tonne INS Vikrant operates a mix of aircraft, with its strike power predominantly coming from Russian MiG-29K/KUB fighters, Kamov-31 helicopters and a new fleet of Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters, when those are delivered by Lockheed Martin.

With a question mark over the combat ability and resilience of the MiG-29K/KUB, the navy is processing the acquisition of 57 more deck-based fighters from the global market to boost the strike power of INS Vikrant and INS Vishal. In addition, the DRDO is pursuing the development of a “twin engine deck-based fighter” (TEDBF) that will supplement the other fighters.

On successful completion of the ongoing series of progressive sea trials, IAC-1 is scheduled to be commissioned as INS Vikrant later this year, as the nation commemorates ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

Parameter

Value

 

Type of aircraft carrier STOBAR (short take-off but arrested landing) Displacement

40,000 tonnes

 

Length x Width 262 x 62 metres Propulsion

4 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbine

 

2 x Elecon COGAG gearbox

Speed 30 knots (56 kmph) Range 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) Crew 196 officers, 1,449 sailors (including air crew) Sensors

a)    Elta MF-STAR AESA multifunction radar

 

b)    Selex RAN-40L air surveillance radar

Armament

a)    64 LR SAM surface-to-air-missiles

 

b)    4 x Otomelara 76 mm cannons

Air power

a)    26 x MiG-29K/KUB

 

b)    10 x Kamov-31, Sikorsky MH-60R choppers

Cost Approximately Rs 20,000 crore (US$ 2.7 billion)