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Amidst chanting
of hymns from the Atharva Veda, Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier,
decommissioned on 31 January 1997, was reborn today (IAC) as ‘Vikrant’
meaning “courageous” or “victorious” in Sanskrit.
In a colourful ceremony filled with traditional pomp and fervour at the
Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Smt Antony launched ‘Vikrant’ in the
presence of Shri AK Antony, the Minister of Shipping, Shri GK Vasan, the
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi, the F-O-C in C Western Naval Command
Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Commander-in-Chief Southern Naval Command Vice
Admiral Satish Soni, Chairman and Managing Director, CSL, Commodore (Retd) K
Subramaniam and other officials of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of
Shipping. In addition, a multitude of Naval officers, yard workers and a few
members of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the manufacturers of
the indigenous warship grade steel, were also present.
At the launch, marking the end of Phase- I of the project, the imposing ramp
of the 37,500 tonne Short Take off but Assisted Recovery (STOBAR) Carrier
boasted the indigenous design and build capabilities of the country. The ship
has attained its designed length of about 260 m and is almost at its maximum
breadth of 60 m. The main landing strip is ready. Over 80% of the structure,
containing about 2300 compartments has been fabricated, over 75% has been
erected, all the major machinery, such as the two LM2500 Gas Turbines
developing a total power of 80 MW, the diesel alternators capable of
producing about 24 MW and the main gear box have been fitted. Soon after
Vikrant floated perfectly upright, she was launched out into the Ernakulam
Channel in a pontoon assisted precision manoeuvre. Vikrant was moved out of
the building dock to be positioned in the refitting dock where the next Phase
of outfitting will be completed.
Describing the occasion as a ‘momentous’ one, Shri Antony said,“ Today’s
launching of the IAC marks just the first step in a long journey, but at the
same time, an important one.” He said it was indeed a proud moment for the
country to witness our efforts at achieving self-reliance in the field of
warship design and construction, as only a very few advanced countries in the
world possess the capability to design and build aircraft carriers.
Shri Antony said we must continue the process of strengthening indigenous
capability towards securing our maritime interests. ‘Our Navy must continue
to maintain high operational readiness at all times to ward off any likely
misadventure against our national interests’, he said.
The Defence Minister urged the Indian industry to participate whole-heartedly
in our shipbuilding programmes and further consolidate our strength in this
field.
Speaking on the occasion, the Shipping Minister Shri GK Vasan said by
launching this great warship which is one of the most important ships for the
Indian Navy, Indian shipbuilding has demonstrated its technical capability
and expertise.
The design and construction of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier was sanctioned
by the government in January 2003. The keel of the ship was laid on 28 Feb
2009 by Shri AK Antony. Vikrant marks a special feather in indigenous defence
capabilities- this being the first ever aircraft carrier to be designed by
the Directorate of Naval Design of the Indian Navy, the first warship to be
built by Cochin Shipyard Limited and the first warship to be built entirely using
indigenously produced steel. The construction of the ship is a truly pan
Indian effort with active participation of private and public enterprises.
The steel has come from SAIL’s plants in Raurkela in Orissa, Bokaro in
Jharkand and Bhilai in Chattisgarh; the Main Switch Board, steering gear and
water tight hatches have been manufactured by Larsen and Toubro in its plants
in Mumbai and Talegaon; the high capacity air conditioning and refrigeration
systems have been manufactured in Kirloskar’s plants in Pune; most pumps have
been supplied by Best and Crompton, Chennai; Bharat Heavy Engineering Limited
(BHEL) is supplying the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS); the
massive gear box is supplied by Elecon in Gujarat; the tens of thousands of
electrical cable is supplied by Nicco industries in Kokatta; Kolkatta is also
where the ship’s anchor chain cable is manufactured.
Vikrant will be capable of operating an aircraft mix of the Russian MiG-29K
and LCA (Navy) fighters being developed indigenously by HAL. Its helicopter
component will include the Kamov 31 and the indigenously developed ALH
helicopters. The ship’s ability to sense and control a large air space around
it will be enabled by modern C/D band Early Air Warning Radar, V/UHF Tactical
Air Navigational and Direction Finding systems, jamming capabilities over the
expected Electro Magnetic (EM) environment and Carrier Control Approach
Radars to aid air operations. Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR SAM)
systems with Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and Close- In Weapon System (CIWS)
will form the protective suite of the ship. All weapon systems onboard the
carrier will be integrated through an indigenous Combat Management System
(CMS), being manufactured by Tata Power systems. The ship’s integration with
Navy’s Network Centric Operations will provide force multiplication.
Design of this prestigious ship has been undertaken by the Directorate of
Naval Design (DND)of the Indian Navy. Created in 1956 as the Corps of Naval
Constructors, to realise the dream of being a builder’s Navy through
indigenisation, DND has successfully designed over 17 different classes of
warships, to which around 90 ships have already been built within the
country. The Delhi class destroyers, with a displacement of about 7000 tonnes,
were the biggest warships designed by DND so far. Designing of the Vikrant,
at almost 40,000 tonnes speaks of the maturing of the capabilities of DND and
represents a feather in the cap of the designers particularly as it is the
first aircraft carrier of its size in the world with some unique features
such as Gas Turbine Propulsion.
The seamless hull and smooth lines of the ship stand as testimony to the high
production standards of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). CSL, a mini Ratna PSU,
has earned a reputation for quality construction and timely delivery. Till
now, CSL had the distinction of building the largest ship in India i.e.,
93,500 tonne Aframax tankers. However, this complex integrated construction
project enabled by a Rs 200 Crores infrastructure augmentation plan involving
large cranes, workshops and heavy duty machinery has seen the shipyard
maturing into a competent warship builder.
Vikrant will now enter the second phase of construction which will see the
outfitting of the ship, fitment of various weapons and sensors, integration
of the gigantic propulsion system and integration of the aircraft complex
(with the assistance of M/s NDB of Russia). The ship will then undergo
extensive trials before she is handed over to the Indian Navy by around
2016-17.
About INS Vikrant
It may be recalled that at the time of attaining our Independence, our
visionary leaders saw the centrality of a powerful Navy and set us on the
right course by envisaging an aircraft carrier centred Indian Navy. INS Vikrant,
India’s first aircraft carrier was acquired from Great Britain and
commissioned on 04 Mar 1961. In its 36 years of glorious service INS Vikrant
was at the centre of action in the 1971 operations for liberation of
Bangladesh. Having seen many years of service as a CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted
Take Off but Arrested Recovery) carrier working an angled deck and operating
Sea Hawks, Alizes and Seakings, INS Vikrant was transformed into a STOVL
carrier to operate Sea Harrier jump jets. INS Vikrant was decommissioned on
31 Jan 1997, after 36 years of glorious service under the Indian ensign. With
the launch of IAC, ‘Vikrant’ the Indian Navy is well on its way to
demonstrate its comfort with the practiced art of trapped landings and angled
deck operations.
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