Introduction
Countries around the world are engaged in increasing their military powers. The world believes India is an emerging power and security provider in the Indo-Pacific region. INS Vikrant is commissioned on 2nd September 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that Vikrant is not a warship but the result of the hard work, talent, influence, and commitment of India in the 21st century.
INS Vikrant is India’s 1st home-built aircraft carrier. Induction of this aircraft carrier into the navy will ensure the maritime capability of the country will be further strengthened. China’s interference in the Indian Ocean has increased, and INS Vikrant is an initiative to balance it. According to Navy Vice Admiral S N Ghormade, “the induction of INS Vikrant will help maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region including the Indian Ocean”.
Capability of INS Vikrant
Aircraft carriers are extremely critical assets for the navy and marines of any country for carrying out any military operation away from the country and to add maritime dominance. After the commissioning of INS Vikrant, India will have 2 operational aircraft carriers, which will further strengthen the country’s maritime security. Before this India has only one aircraft carrier- INS Vikramaditya. Due to the increased interference of China in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy is focused on enhancing its capabilities so that’s the reason INS Vikrant has been inducted.
According to experts, India needed at least 2 aircraft carriers as the 7000 km long maritime borders are surrounded East by the Bay of Bengal and West by the Arabian sea on both sides, So India needs 2 aircraft carriers on both sides for security. India has a special economic zone of about 23 lakh square miles.
Another reason is INS Virat has been decommissioned. For some time, the activities of China’s battleships and submarines have increased significantly in the Indian Ocean Region. China has increased its naval strength after globalization whereas US Navy is past them now. China is the largest naval force as of the new order. China commissioned two aircraft carriers between 2012 and 2022 and is working on the third.
INS Vikrant will also make a power projection of India by going to the maritime border as a carrier battle group (CBG). INS Vikrant can carry 30 fighter planes and helicopters. It is a STOBAR technique-based aircraft carrier that can hold Mig 29k, Kamov- 31, Mk54 torpedoes, precise kill rockets, and MH- 60R multi-role helicopters. DRDO and HAL-made Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter Jet will be added.
Making of INS Vikrant
The construction of INS Vikrant took 13 years. 76% of the equipment is indigenous. The result of the hard work of a team of 1700 people. Its design has been prepared by the naval design bureau the Navy. It has been built in the cochin shipyard. Its work started in 2009. It was first launched at sea in 2013. INS Vikrant was made in three phases.
500 Indian companies have contributed to its making. 23000 quintals of steel have been used, 500 km long electric wires, 150 km long pipeline, two thousand valves are fitted. The total cost of making is 2000 Rs crores. Its weight is 45000 tonnes, its length 262 meters, and its width 62 meters height of 59 meters.
It can travel 75 nautical miles continuously on the sea in
one go. INS Vikrant has a special cabin
for lady officers and a hospital with OTs, lab, ICU, and CT scan facilities.
INS Vikrant's flight deck is12500 square meters almost as much as a hockey
field in which 12 fighter planes and 66 helicopters can be operated at a time.
Apart from India US, Russia, China, France, and the UK have the technology and skills to build their aircraft carrier. In 2018 the people’s liberation army of China demonstrated its strategic strength in the south China sea which included 48 battleships and dozens of fighter planes.
According to the US Office of naval
intelligence, China has deployed more than 360 warships at sea by 2020 and has
aircraft carriers Shandong and Liaoning in service. According to the naval
vessels register and published reports us navy has over 490 ships both active
service and reserve fleet. France has an aircraft carrier named Charles de Gaulle
which was commissioned into France's navy in 2001. Russia has an aircraft
carrier named Admiral Kuznetsov which was commissioned into the Russian navy on
20 January 1991. The United Kingdom has two Queen Elizabeth class aircraft
carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. Now India is also one
among them.
Conclusion
INS Vikrant is the first indigenously built aircraft carrier. With INS Vikrant India has joined the group of countries which can build its aircraft carrier. India’s strategic and economic power will get stronger, the foreign exchange reserves will remain balanced and the government's dream of Atma Nirbhar Bharath and Make in India will come true. INS Vikrant is necessary for India to counter China’s increasing influence in the Indian Ocean.
Written by: ANAGHA S
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