India launches first indigenously developed aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

India today launched its first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, making an entry into a select club of countries capable of designing and building a carrier of this size and capability.

Defence Minister A K Antony's wife Elizabeth launched the 37,500 tonne carrier at the Kochi shipyard close to four-and-a-half years after its keel was laid by the minister.

Apart from domestic design and manufacturing work, it is the high grade warship steel made by the Steel Authority of India which has been used for building the ship. Mig 29K, Light Combat Aircraft and Kamov 31 could fly from the carrier.

The other countries, which are capable of designing and building an equivalent size ship, are the US, the UK, Russia and France.