INS Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier, commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: 10 facts
INS Vikrant, initially, will have MiG fighters and some helicopters
Kochi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the INS Vikrant, India’s first homemade aircraft carrier, in a grand ceremony at the Cochin Shipyard. The 45,000-ton warship was built at a cost of Rs 20,000.
Here are the top 10 takeaways from this big story:
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262 m long and 62 m wide, INS Vikrant is the largest warship built in India. It can have 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighters and helicopters. The warship can accommodate a crew of nearly 1,600 people.
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Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that INS Vikrant is a reflection of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission. He added: “Today, India has entered the list of countries that can build such large warships. Vikrant has created new confidence.”
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On this occasion, the Prime Minister also announced a new naval rank. The new national flag has the flag of the upper state. A blue octagon with the coat of arms rests on an anchor, superimposed on a shield with the navy’s motto.
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“The octagonal shape with two golden borders is inspired by the seal of the great Indian emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose maritime visionary established a trusted naval fleet.” said in a video introducing the new insignia.
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In his speech, the Prime Minister said that by adopting the new naval institution, India has lifted the burden of slavery on its chest.
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INS Vikrant, initially, will have MiG fighters and some helicopters. The Navy is in the process of procuring 26 aircraft on deck, which narrows down to a handful of Boeing and Dassault aircraft.
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The battleship has been in use for more than a decade. Several phases of sea trials of the INS Vikrant have been completed since 21 August last year. Aviation tests will be held after the navy orders.
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Currently, India has only one aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, built on Russian platforms. The Self-Defense Force searched for three carriers in all – one as a backup in addition to one for the two main naval fronts, in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.
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INS Vikrant is named after its predecessor, which played a key role in the 1971 war against Pakistan to liberate Bangladesh.
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The Indian Navy considers the new warship an important addition to its arsenal. India can now deploy aircraft carriers on both its eastern and western sea lanes and expand its maritime presence.
