India's First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 'Vikrant' Handed Over To Navy, To be Commissioned In Aug

"A momentous day in the Indian Maritime History & indigenous shipbuilding coinciding with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav," Indian Navy tweeted. 

Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) delivered the country's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier (IAC-1) 'Vikrant' to the Indian Navy on Thursday, following extensive user acceptance trials. According to report, CSL has confirmed that the delivery of the vessel, which is the largest warship ever to be built in India. CSL, in a press release, stated that the vessel is a deep displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes and is also considered as the most ambitious naval vessel project of the country.

"A momentous day in the Indian Maritime History & indigenous shipbuilding coinciding with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav," Indian Navy tweeted. 

Defence sources close to news agency PTI also the confirmed delivery of the vessel to the Indian Navy and said that the official induction and commissioning of the IAC is likely to take place in August, this year. 

INS Vikrant, also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1, is an aircraft carrier constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy. It is the first aircraft carrier to be built in India. It is named 'Vikrant' as a tribute to India's first aircraft carrier, Vikrant.

According to reports, the warship has been constructed in India at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore. With an endurance of 7,500 nautical miles, IAC-I Vikrant will have a top speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots.

The IAC would serve to bolster India's position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its quest for a blue water Navy, a Defence release said. The IAC is "christened after her illustrious predecessor - India's first aircraft carrier which played a vital role in the 1971 war", the release said.

"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," it said.

The indigenously-built aircraft carrier can accommodate an assortment of fixed wing and rotary aircrafts like the MIG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 and MH-60R multi-role helicopters as well as the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).