New Delhi: Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ that embarked on its maiden trial into the Arabian Sea from Kochi on Wednesday, has returned after successfully accomplished its first sea voyage today. The Indian Navy said that the trials progressed as planned and the system parameters proved satisfactory.
"Trials, which were reviewed by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command on the last day; have progressed as planned and system parameters have been proved satisfactory," a press statement by the Indian Navy said. The carrier would continue to undergo series of sea trials to prove all equipment and systems prior to handing over the vessel to the Indian Navy in 2022.
During the maiden voyage, the ship’s performance, including hull, main propulsion, Power Generation and Distribution (PGD) and auxiliary equipment were tested. The Navy said that the successful completion of maiden trials sorties, despite challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID protocols in place, was a testimony to the dedicated efforts of a large number of stakeholders for over a decade.
The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is 262 meters long, 62 meters at the widest part and height of 59 meters including the superstructure. There are 14 decks in all, including five in the superstructure. The ship has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,700 people, including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers.
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The ship has a high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability. The carrier has been designed to accommodate an assortment of fixed wing and rotary aircraft.
The delivery of Vikrant is being targeted to coincide with celebrations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence dubbed as ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
With the delivery of IAC, India would join a select group of nations with the capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier and provides thrust to Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. Delivery of IAC would also strengthen India’s position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its quest for a blue water Navy.
