Kochi: The countdown for the launch of India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier, the IAC Vikrant has started. The IAC Vikrant will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, September 2.
It will be a momentous day for the country, tweeted the Indian Navy Thursday morning.
“Countdown begins… 02 Sep 22 – Commissioning of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant – A momentous day for the Nation & Indian Navy – ‘Pride of our Nation’ (sic),” the tweet by the Indian Navy read.
The naval arm of the Indian armed forces also tweeted a video that gives a peek into life onboard IAC Vikrant. Watch it here:
The massive ship is set to be commissioned by the PM at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Kerala tomorrow.
The commissioning of IAC Vikrant marks a momentous step in achieving self-reliance in the defence sector.
Vikrant is the first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier. Its design was prepared by the Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) while construction was carried out by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
IAC Vikrant is the biggest ship ever that has been built by India.
IAC Vikrant has been named after its predecessor, which was India’s first aircraft carrier. The original INS Vikrant played an important role in the 1971 war with Pakistan.
IAC Vikrant, which will become INS Vikrant tomorrow, will be able to accommodate a crew of around 1,600 people and can operate a fleet of 30 fighter jets and helicopters.
The commissioning of the IAC Vikrant will allow India to deploy an aircraft carrier on both the eastern and western coasts. It will also boost the Indian Navy’s maritime presence and capabilities in the region.
Also tomorrow, the PM is slated to unveil the new ensign or nishaan of the Indian Navy.
With the commissioning of IAC Vikrant tomorrow, India will have two functional aircraft carriers, with INS Vikramaditya – a repurposed Russian carrier – being the other.
