SPOTD: India’s First Homegrown Aircraft Carrier Float Out

(IAC) to be built for the Indian Navy

India yesterday undocked its first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at a simple ceremony at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

INS Vikrant is the first aircraft carrier built in India and the first warship built by Cochin. Work on the ship’s design began in 1999, and the keel was laid in February 2009. The carrier was floated out of its dry dock on 29 December 2011 and was launched in 2013.

The name Vikrant means “courageous” or “bold”. She is 262 meters (860 ft) long and 60 meters (200 ft) wide, and displaces about 40,000 metric tons (39,000 long tons). The vessel features a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configuration with a ski-jump.

Major outfitting work of the ship will start this week. Later, basin trials and extensive sea trials will be undertaken prior to delivery to the Navy, said CSL officials.

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