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INS Vikrant (2013)

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For the decommissioned Majestic-class aircraft carrier, see INS Vikrant (R11).
History
India
NameINS Vikrant
NamesakeINS Vikrant (R11)
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorIndian Navy
BuilderCochin Shipyard Limited
Launched12 August 2013
General characteristics
TypeVikrant-class aircraft carrier
Displacement40,000 tons
Length262 m (860 ft)
Beam60 m (200 ft)
Draught8.4 m (28 ft)
Depth25.6 m (84 ft)
Decks2.5 acres (110,000 sq ft; 10,000 m²)
Propulsion4 General Electric LM2500+ marine gas turbines
Speed28 kn (52 km/h)
Range8,000 nmi (15,000 km)[1]
Crew1,400 (incl air crew)
Sensors and
processing systems		1 x Selex RAN-40L
Electronic warfare
& decoys		C/D band early air-warning radar[1]
Armamentlist error: mixed text and list (help)
4x Otobreda 76 mm
Aircraft carried

INS Vikrant (IAC-I) is the first Vikrant-class aircraft carrier built by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy. She is the first aircraft carrier to be built in India. Work on the ship's design began in 1999, and the keel was laid in February 2009. The carrier was floated out of its dry dock on 29 December 2011,[2] and was launched in 2013. Construction is expected to be completed by 2016 and the ship is due to be commissioned in 2018.

Design

INS Vikrant is the first ship of the Vikrant class of aircraft carriers. The name Vikrant (Sanskrit vikrānta, meaning "stepping beyond") means "courageous" or "bold". She is 262 metres (860 ft) long and 60 metres (200 ft) wide, and displaces about 40,000 metric tons (39,000 long tons). She features a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configuration with a ski-jump. The deck is designed to enable aircraft such as the MiG-29K to operate from the carrier. She is expected to carry an air group of up to thirty aircraft, which will include up to 20 fixed-wing aircraft, primarily the Mikoyan MiG-29K and the naval variant of the HAL Tejas Mark 2, besides carrying 10 Kamov Ka-31 or Westland Sea King helicopters. The Ka-31 will fulfill the airborne early warning (AEW) role and the Sea King will provide anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability.[3][4]

Vikrant is powered by four General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines on two shafts, generating over 80 megawatts (110,000 hp) of power. The gearboxes for the carriers were designed and supplied by Elecon Engineering.[2][5][6]

Construction

Construction was complicated due to difficulty in obtaining suitable AB/A grade steel, which Russia was unable to supply. To resolve this, the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) created facilities to manufacture the steel in India.[3] [2] Reportedly, three special steels are used on Vikrant, for the hull, flight deck and floor compartments which are manufactured at the Bhilai Steel Plant and Rourkela Steel Plant.[7]

The keel for Vikrant was laid by Defence Minister A.K. Antony at the Cochin Shipyard on 28 February 2009.[8][9] The ship uses modular construction, with 874 blocks joined together for the hull. By the time the keel was laid, 423 blocks weighing over 8,000 tons had been completed.[10] The construction plan called for the carrier to be launched in 2010, when it would displace some 20,000 tonnes, as a larger displacement could not be accommodated in the building bay. It was planned that after about a year’s development in the refit dock, the carrier would be launched when all the major components, including underwater systems, would be in place. Outfitting would then be carried out after launch. As per the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), sea trials were initially planned to commence in 2013, with the ship to be commissioned in 2014.[11][12]

In March 2011, it was reported that the project had been affected by the delay in the delivery of the main gearboxes for the carrier. The supplier, Elecon Engineering, attributed it to having to work around a number of technical complexities due to the length of the propulsion shafts.[13] Other issues resulting in delays included an accident with a diesel generator and an issue with its alignment.[14] In August 2011, the defence ministry reported to the Lok Sabha that 75% of the construction work for the hull of the lead carrier had been completed and the carrier would be first launched in December 2011, following which further works would be completed until commissioning.[15][16] On 29 December 2011, the completed hull of the carrier was first floated out of its dry dock at CSL, with its displacement at over 14,000 tonnes.[5] Interior works and fittings on the hull would be carried out until the second half of 2012, when she would again be dry-docked for integration with its propulsion and power generation systems.[1][2]

In July 2012, The Times of India reported that construction of Vikrant has been delayed by 3 years, and the ship would be ready for commissioning by 2017. Later, in November 2012, NDTV reported that cost of the aircraft carrier had increased and the delivery has been delayed by at least five years and is expected to be with the Indian Navy only after 2018 as against the scheduled date of delivery of 2014.[17] Work has begun for next stage which includes installation of the integrated propulsion system. Avio, an Italian company, is installing the integrated platform management system (IPMS).[18][19]

Launch

In July 2013, defence minister A. K. Antony announced that Vikrant would be launched on 12 August at the Cochin Shipyard. The ship was launched by his wife, Elizabeth Antony, on 12 August 2013. Extensive sea trials are expected to begin in 2016 and the ship will be inducted into the navy by late 2018.[20][21]

After the launch, Vikrant was re-docked for further work, including completion of the flight deck and installation of the bridge. According to Vice Admiral Robin Dhowan, about 83% of the fabrication work and 75% of the construction work was complete. He said that 90% of the body work of the aircraft carrier had been designed and made in India, about 50% of the propulsion system, and about 30% of her weaponry. He also said that the ship will be equipped with a long range missile system with multi-function radar and a close-in weapon system (CIWS).[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d India Floats out Its First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
  2. ^ a b c d "Navy floats out first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier". The Hindu. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Keel-laying of indigenous aircraft carrier in December". Hindu.com. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Vikramaditya and Liaoning - forces of the future". IndRus. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Elecon to supply gears for India's first aircraft carrier". Business Standard. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  6. ^ "India starts work on second indigenous aircraft carrier". The Economic Times. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  7. ^ "INS Vikrant's first victory: being built from Indian steel". Business Standard. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  8. ^ "India overhauls coastal security, Navy gets charge". NDTV.com. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  9. ^ "India to lay keel of new aircraft carrier on Saturday | World | RIA Novosti". En.rian.ru. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  10. ^ "India joins elite warships club". Deccan Herald. 1 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  11. ^ Unnithan, Sandeep (18 February 2009). "Keel laying of indigenous aircraft carrier next week". Indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Indigenous Aircraft Carrier's nucleus ready - India - DNA". Dnaindia.com. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  13. ^ "Indigenous aircraft carrier a year behind schedule". The Hindu. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  14. ^ "INS Arihant on track". The Hindu. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  15. ^ ‘Indigenous aircraft carrier launch this Dec’
  16. ^ First indigenous aircraft carrier to be completed by Dec: Govt, IBN Live News
  17. ^ Indian aircraft carrier: More costly, already delayed
  18. ^ From 12th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2013) Between March 26 & 30
  19. ^ "Indian Carrier Sails from Russia for Final Sea Trials". July 08, 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ a b INS Vikrant, first Indian-made aircraft carrier, enters water next week NDTV 11 August 2013
  21. ^ India launches first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant Times of India 12 August 2013
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