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India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant begins sea trials

MUMBAI: The first aircraft carrier to be built in India, INS Vikrant an indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the Indian Navy has started its sea trials today and as per current schedules will be commissioned into the service of Indian Navy by August 2022.

The launch of the sea trials of the 40,000-tonne warship, built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore, has been described by the Navy as 'historic' as it propelled India into a select group of countries having capabilities to build state-of-the-art aircraft carriers.

INS Vikrant is 262 metres (860 ft) long and 62 metres (203 ft) wide, and displaces about 45,000 metric tons (44,000 long tons) and its deck is designed to enable aircraft such as the MiG-29K to operate from the carrier. The basin trials were completed in December 2020.

It is expected to carry an air group of up to thirty aircraft, which will include up to 24–26 fixed-wing combat aircraft, primarily the Mikoyan MiG-29K, besides carrying 10 Kamov Ka-31 or Westland Sea King helicopters. The Ka-31 will fulfil the airborne early warning (AEW) role and the Sea King will provide anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability.

The ship has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1700 people, including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers.

Talking of the suppliers to the construction of the ship Commander Madhwal said around 550 Indian firms including about 100 MSMEs are registered with the Cochin Shipyard Limited and they provided various services for the construction of the IAC. 

Work on the ship's design began in 1999, and the keel was laid in February 2009. The carrier was floated out of its dry dock on 29 December 2011 and was launched on 12 August 2013. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian Navy and the Cochin Shipyard Limited, the manufacturer of the aircraft carrier, on the maiden sea sortie by the warship and described it as a 'historic milestone'. He tweeted, "The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 'Vikrant', designed by Indian Navy's Design Team and built by @cslcochin, undertook its maiden sea sortie today. A wonderful example of @makeinindia. Congratulations to @indiannavy and @cslcochin on this historic milestone."

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