In a significant development for India’s maritime power, INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, officially joined the Western Fleet in the Arabian Sea on Friday. This move marks a major boost to the Navy’s operational capabilities.
The Carrier Battle Group, led by the Navy’s other aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, welcomed INS Vikrant with a multi-domain exercise and twin carrier fighter operations. This exercise enhances the Navy’s “Sword Arm,” providing India with a strategic advantage in the region.
INS Vikrant, the Navy’s fourth aircraft carrier and the first to be built indigenously, was constructed at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd. in Kerala. The carrier will now be stationed at the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka, serving as a key asset in India’s defense infrastructure.
The aircraft carrier is an engineering marvel, measuring 262 meters long and 62 meters wide, with a displacement of approximately 45,000 tonnes. It can carry an air group of up to 36 aircraft, including 26 fixed-wing combat aircraft and a variety of helicopters, all equipped with advanced weaponry.
INS Vikrant is powered by four GE gas turbines on two shafts, which generate over 80 MW of power, enough to light up a city of 20 lakh people. Its Combat Management System (CMS) was developed by Tata Advanced Systems, marking the first time a private company has built such a system for the Navy.
The ship’s construction history is long and complex. First authorized in 1999 by then Defence Minister George Fernandes, its keel was laid in 2009 under the supervision of former Defence Minister A. K. Antony, with its launch in 2013. After completing sea trials in August 2021, the aircraft carrier achieved full operational status in November 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Vikrant into the Navy on September 2, 2022, and the vessel has now officially joined the Navy’s Western Fleet. Earlier this year, INS Vikrant participated alongside INS Vikramaditya in the Milan 2024 multinational naval exercise, showcasing India’s growing naval strength on the global stage.
This induction of INS Vikrant reinforces India’s naval capabilities, significantly enhancing the country’s maritime defense and securing its strategic interests in the region.
