India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant was handed over to the Navy by The Cochin Shipyard on Thursday The aircraft, named after India’s first aircraft carrier, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant, which played a significant role in the 1971 war, is 262-metre-long with a displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes. Vikrant is powered by four gas turbines and was built on a cost of close to Rs 20,000 crore.
“Indian Navy has created maritime history today by taking delivery of the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (AC) ‘Vikrant from her builder Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. Designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and built by CSL, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Shipping (MoS), the carrier is christened after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first Aircraft Carrier which played a vital role in the 1971 war. Coinciding with the celebrations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the reincarnation of Vikrant is a true testimony to the country’s zeal and fervour in pursuing capability build up towards enhanced maritime security,” said the Indian Navy.
The carrier will soon be commissioned into the Navy as the INS Vikrant, which will help strengthen the country’s position in the Indian ocean region.
