TSAMTO, August 1. As reported by the Ministry of Defense of India, the command of the country's Navy during the ceremony held on July 28 received the first aircraft carrier of national construction P71 "Vikrant" (IAC-1 – Indigenous Aircraft Carrier).
The aircraft carrier was handed over to the customer by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) after completing extensive tests that were conducted between August 2021 and July 2022. During the tests, on-board equipment and other systems were checked, including the main power plant, auxiliary equipment, armament, sensors, components of the aircraft complex, various characteristics of the aircraft carrier were confirmed, including seaworthiness and maneuverability.
As reported by TSAMTO, the keel laying ceremony of the first national aircraft carrier took place at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi on February 28, 2009, the launch took place in August 2013.
The project was implemented under a contract signed by the Indian Ministry of Defense with CSL in three stages: in May 2007, December 2014 and October 2019, respectively. The total cost of construction was about 200 billion. rupees ($2.8 billion). The construction of the ship designed by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND) was carried out with a significant lag from the originally agreed schedule and with a large excess of cost.
The share of national production systems is about 76%. BEL, BHEL, GRSE, Keltron, Kirloskar, Larsen & Toubro, Wartsila India, etc. took part in the construction.
The length of the ship is 262 m, the maximum width is 62 m, the draft is 8.4 m, the total displacement is about 45,000 tons. It is equipped with a gas turbine power plant, including 4 LM2500 turbines from General Electric with a total capacity of 80 MW, which allows for a maximum speed of more than 28 knots. The cruising range is about 7,500 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots. The aircraft carrier is armed with four AK-630 six-barreled guns and will probably be equipped with the Barak-8 air defense system, jointly developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of the Indian Defense Ministry and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
"Vikrant" is made according to the STOBAR scheme (short takeoff but arrested recovery – "short takeoff and landing on an aerial finisher"). The carrier-based air wing will include about 30 aircraft, including MiG 29K fighters, Ka 31 helicopters, MH-60R multipurpose helicopters, and Dhruv light helicopters.
In addition, the Indian government is considering several options for the purchase of 57 multi-purpose carrier-based fighters under the MRCBF program, under which Vikrant may eventually accept either the F/A-18 Super Hornet or Rafale.
