India Navy eyes another indigenous aircraft carrier following INS Vikrant's success.

According to information published by the Times of India on September 1, 2023, following the successful induction of the INS Vikrant, the Indian Navy is now setting its sights on procuring another Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC).
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Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. (Picture source: Indian MoD)

The journey of INS Vikrant began in 1999 when its design was initiated. The keel was laid a decade later in 2009, and by December 2011, the carrier was floated out of its dry dock.

She was officially launched in August 2013, underwent basin trials by December 2020, and started its sea trials in August 2021. The carrier was commissioned on 2 September 2022, with its aircraft flight trials set to conclude in 2023. The project's total cost stood at approximately ₹23,000 crore (equivalent to ₹260 billion or US$3.2 billion in 2023) during its first sea trials.

The INS Vikrant is equipped to house up to 26 Rafale M fighters and a combination of Kamov Ka-31, HAL Dhruv NUH, or MH-60R helicopters. Measuring 262 meters in length, the ship can achieve a top speed of 28 knots and boasts an endurance of 7,500 nautical miles.

The carrier comprises 2,300 compartments and can accommodate 1,700 seamen. Additional features include a hospital complex, female officer cabins, extensive corridors, and powerful generators capable of lighting a sizable city.

The INS Vikrant's specifications are impressive: a loaded displacement of 45,000 tonnes, a beam of 62 meters, and a height of 59 meters. It's powered by four General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbines and can reach speeds of up to 30 knots.

The carrier's armament includes a 32 cell VLS Barak 8 SAM, Otobreda 76 mm dual-purpose cannons, and AK-630 CIWS. It can carry a combination of fixed-wing aircraft like the Rafale M and MiG-29K, and rotary-wing aircraft such as the Kamov Ka-31, MH-60R, and HAL Dhruv. The flight deck spans 12,500 m2, providing ample space for operations.