Historic moment for India, aircraft carrier INS Vikrant begins sea trials
The 4000-tonne aircraft carrier powers India into a select group of nations having niche capability to indigenously design, build & integrate a state-of-the-art aircraft carrier.
FollowIndigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has commenced her maiden sea trials on Wednesday.Â
With the construction of the 4000-tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, India joins a select group of nations having niche capability to indigenously design, build & integrate a state-of-the-art aircraft carrier.
Terming the development as a 'proud and historic day', the Indian Navy said it is the largest and most complex warship ever to be designed and built in India.Â
"It is a proud and historical moment in our quest for Atmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India initiative," the Navy said.
The aircraft carrier was built by the Cochin Shipyard at a projected cost of Rs 23,000 crore. It will become fully operational only after the flight trials using the MiG-29K fighter jet, MH-60R multi-role helicopters and the indigenously-manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters are completed from its deck by around mid-2023.Â
Rechristened as INS Vikrant as the original warship played a significant role during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The original carrier was acquired from the United Kingdom in 1961 and was retired from the service in 1997.Â
Presently, the Indian Navy has only one aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, inducted from Russia for $2.33 billion in November 2013.
