INS Vikrant: In News
The Prime Minister of India celebrated Deepavali aboard INS Vikrant and hailed armed forces’ unity in Operation Sindoor.
- It 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.
- Features of INS Vikrant
- With a length of 262 metres and a width of 62 metres, the massive aircraft carrier boasts 14 decks.
- Its full-load displacement is 43,000 tonnes.
- It is powered by four Gas Turbines totaling 88 MW of power and has a maximum speed of 28 knots.
- 8,600 miles (13,890 kilometres) and 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).
- Using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as STOBAR (Short Take-Off but Arrested Landing), INS Vikrant is equipped with a ski- jump for launching aircraft and a set of ‘arrester wires’ for their recovery onboard.
