India commissions Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

The Indian Navy's Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, seen here during its sea trials. The vessel was commissioned as INS Vikrant on 2 September 2022. (Indian Navy)

The Indian Navy has commissioned its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) as INS Vikrant .

The vessel was commissioned on 2 September by the country's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who also unveiled a new naval ensign at the event that was held on the premises of the programme's shipbuilder, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

Vikrant was laid down by the shipbuilder in February 2009 and it was launched in June 2015. It was handed over to the Indian Navy in July 2022 after “extensive user-acceptance trials” that began in August 2021, said the Indian Ministry of Defence in a media release to mark the vessel's delivery. The carrier's delivery date is at least six years behind schedule.

Vikrant has an overall length of 262 m with a standard displacement of about 40,000 tonnes. The vessel is powered by four GE LM2500 gas-turbine engines and can attain a top speed of 28 kt. It can attain a standard range of 7,500 n miles at a cruising speed of 18 kt.

The vessel has been designed with a ski-jump aircraft launching system, and it is equipped for short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) operations. Vikrant can accommodate up to 30 aircraft in its air wing, including MiG-29K fighter jets and helicopters such as the Kamov-31 and MH-60R.

To protect the vessel from close-range threats, Vikrant has been equipped with four six-barrelled AK-630 close-in weapon system (CIWS) turrets and the Barak-8 surface-to-air missile system.