New Delhi, Sept 20: In a significant development for India’s maritime defense, the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has officially been inducted into the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet. The induction took place on Friday during a multi-domain exercise in the Arabian Sea, marking an important milestone in enhancing India’s naval strength.
Led by INS Vikramaditya, the Carrier Battle Group welcomed INS Vikrant with twin-carrier fighter operations. The inclusion of Vikrant further fortifies the Navy’s Western Fleet, often regarded as its ‘Sword Arm.’
Built at Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, INS Vikrant is India’s first homegrown aircraft carrier and its fourth overall. The vessel, now stationed at the naval base in Karwar, Karnataka, stretches 262 meters long, 62 meters wide, and displaces 45,000 tonnes. It can support an air group of 36 aircraft, including 26 combat jets and various helicopters for combat, search, and rescue missions.
The carrier is powered by four GE gas turbines on two shafts, producing over 80MW of power—enough to light up a city of 2 million people. It features a combat management system developed by Tata Advanced Systems, marking the first such collaboration with a private company for the Navy.
INS Vikrant houses over 2,300 compartments, accommodates 1,700 sailors, and includes a hospital and cabins for female officers. The vessel also boasts approximately 8 kilometers of corridors.
Authorized in 1999 under Defence Minister George Fernandes, the ship’s keel was laid in 2009 by then Defence Minister A.K. Antony, and it was launched in 2013. Sea trials began in August 2021. Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially commissioned Vikrant into service on September 2, 2022, and it achieved full operational status by November 2023.
Earlier this year, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya participated in the Milan 2024 multinational naval exercise hosted by India. The induction of INS Vikrant into the Western Fleet underscores India’s growing maritime strength and commitment to safeguarding its regional maritime interests.
