INS Vikrant Will Help In Ensuring Peace, Stability In Indo-Pacific: Navy Chief Ghormade

INS Vikrant commissioning will be a historic occasion and it is also a symbol of "national unity" as its components came from a significant number of states and Union Territories.

New Delhi: India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier, Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), Vikrant is all set to be commissioned on September 2. Vikrant will be commissioned into the Navy at an event in Kochi which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The commissioning of the indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will contribute to ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Vice Chief of Indian Navy Vice Admiral SN Ghormade said on Thursday.

"We all know that in the Indian Ocean Region, we should have a force level which can act as a deterrent. All efforts were made to make INS Vikramaditya available fast and INS Vikrant was readied quickly," Vice Admiral SN Ghormade said.

Vice Admiral Ghormade said the commissioning of the aircraft carrier will be an "unforgettable" day as it will significantly enhance the country's overall maritime capabilities.

On INS Vikrant, Vice Admiral Ghormade said its commissioning will be a historic occasion and that it is also a symbol of "national unity" as its components have been made in 18 states and union territories including places like Ambala, Daman, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Kota, Pune, and New Delhi.  

The aircraft carrier, built at a cost of around Rs 20,000 crore, successfully completed the fourth and final phase of the sea trials last month.

With the construction of 'Vikrant', India has joined a select group of nations having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant has 2200 compartments including separate accommodation for women officers and female Agniveer sailors.

Vikrant has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.

The aircraft carrier is 262 metres long, 62 metres wide and has a height of 59 metres. Its construction began in 2009.

The project has been implemented under the three phases of the contract between the ministry of defence and Cochin Shipyard Ltd, beginning May 2007. The ship's keel was laid in February 2009.

(With PTI inputs)