INS Vikrant: Deployed To the Arabian Sea
Amid surging tensions between India and Pakistan, especially after Pakistan’s attempted aerial strikes on Indian territory, the Indian Navy has deployed its most formidable naval asset — INS Vikrant — to the Arabian Sea.
- INS Vikrant is India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured aircraft carrier.
- The ship has been designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by M/s Cochin Shipyard Limited.
- It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2022.
- It has an overall indigenous content of 76%.
- It strengthens the country’s standing as a ‘Blue Water Navy’—a maritime force with global reach and capability to operate over deep seas.
- With it, India also joined the elite group of nations–the US, Russia, France, the UK, and China–who are capable of designing and constructing aircraft carriers.
- With a length of 262 metres and a width of 62 metres, the massive aircraft carrier boasts 14 decks, making it as tall as a 14-storey building.
- It can house over 1,500 personnel.
- Its full-load displacement is 43,000 tonnes.
- The ship is powered by four Gas Turbines totaling 88 MW of power and has a maximum speed of 28 knots.
- Endurance: 8,600 miles (13,890 kilometres)
- It is capable of functioning independently for up to 45 days at sea.
- It is capable of operating an air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising MIG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy).
