India’s Aircraft Carriers - Significance
Description
India’s Aircraft Carriers
Description: Read about Aircraft carriers, their significance, History of Aircraft Carriers, about INS Vikrant (R11), INS Viraat, INS Vikramaditya, INS Vikrant
India celebrated a historical milestone as it commissioned its first ever Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)- Vikrant. Designed by Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Vikrant has been built with state-of-the-art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in the maritime history of India.
The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is named in honour of her historic predecessor, India's first aircraft carrier, which played an important part in the war of 1971.
The ship has large number of indigenous equipment and machinery, involving major industrial houses in the country viz. BEL, BHEL, GRSE, Keltron, Kirloskar, Larsen & Toubro, Wartsila India etc. as well as over 100 MSMEs.
Vikrant's commissioning would provide India two operational aircraft carriers, which will greatly improve the country's maritime security.
Significance of Aircraft Carriers
• Aircraft carriers are extremely strong and have powerful weapons. Their military capabilities, which include carrier borne aircraft, have completely changed the marine domain. An aircraft carrier offers a wide range of strategic benefits.
• It offers incredibly flexible operational options. Surveillance, air defence, airborne early warning, protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), and anti-submarine warfare are some of its principal functions.
• For India, the carrier battlegroup, with its inherent combat elements and firepower, becomes a key capability to establish effective air dominance and efficient sea control.
History of Aircraft Carriers in India
Right from its Independence, India was well aware of the need for aircraft carriers to establish itself as a blue water navy. Since the sixties, the Indian Navy has had the unique distinction of operating all variants of aircraft launch and recovery systems.
Here is a walkthrough of India’s prestigious aircraft carriers till now:
INS Vikrant (R11)- India’s First Aircraft Carrier
• The INS Vikrant was launched on September 22, 1945 as Hercules.
• On March 04, 1961 it was commissioned as Vikrant in its first avatar.
• The 19,500-tonne Carrier, INS Vikrant was the first ever carrier for an Asian country and remained so for a long time. Soon after its commissioning, the INS Vikrant saw action during the Goa Liberation Operation in 1961.
• It played a crucial role in the 1971 war with its aircrafts decimating the enemy.
• After serving for 36 years, it was decommissioned from active service on 31 January, 1997.
INS Viraat- Over 30 Years of Service to the Nation
• INS Viraat was originally commissioned by the British Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959. It served the Royal Navy in three different avatars- 1959-1970: as the Strike Carrier, 1970-1980- as a Commando Anti-Submarine Warfare Carrier, and 1980 onwards it was a V/STOL Carrier, for which it underwent major structural modifications.
• The Indian Navy, in need of a second aircraft carrier, acquired the HMS Hermes on April 24, 1986. INS Viraat was finally commissioned by the Indian Navy on 12 May 1987.
• INS Viraat’s first major operation was ‘Operation Jupiter’ in July 1989 as part of Peace Keeping Operations in Sri Lanka, following the breakdown of the Indo- Sri Lankan Accord of 1986.
• It also played a pivotal role in Operation Parakram, which was carried out in the wake of the 2013 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament.
• By establishing a blockade against Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War, the INS Viraat also played a crucial part in Operation Vijay.
• The ship has additionally taken part in a number of foreign joint exercises, including Malabar (with the US Navy), Varuna (with the French Navy), and Naseem-Al-Bahr (with the Oman Navy), as well as being a crucial component of every year's Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX).
INS Vikramaditya- Indian Navy’s Biggest Ship
• Russia’s refurbished Admiral Gorshkov was commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya at Severodvinsk, Russia on November 16, 2013.
• It is a state-of-the-art ship, capable of operating a versatile range of high-performance aircrafts, such as the MiG 29K fighters, KM 31 AEW helicopters, multi-role Seakings and utility Chetaks.
• The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art launch and recovery systems along with aids to enable smooth and efficient operation of ship borne aircraft. Major systems include the LUNA Landing system for MiGs, DAPS Landing system for Sea Harriers and Flight deck lighting systems.
INS Vikrant (IAC-1): The Self-Reliant Rebirth
• The 262-metre-long carrier has a full displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes which is much larger and advanced than her predecessor. The ship is powered by four Gas Turbines totaling 88 MW power and has a maximum speed of 28 Knots.
• Vikrant has been built with high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability, and has been designed to accommodate an assortment of fixed wing and rotary aircraft.
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