Vikrant-class aircraft carrier

For the decommissioned Majestic-class aircraft carrier, see INS Vikrant (R11).

INS Vikrant under construction.
Class overview
NameVikrant-class aircraft carrier
BuildersCochin Shipyard Limited
Operators
Indian Navy Ensign
Indian Navy Ensign
Indian Navy
Preceded byINS Vikramaditya
Succeeded byINS Vishal
In service2022–present
Planned2[1][2][3]
Completed1
Active1
General characteristics
TypeAircraft carrier
Displacement40,000 t (39,000 long tons)
Length262 m (859 ft 7 in)
Beam62 m (203 ft 5 in)
Draught8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
Depth25.6 m (84 ft 0 in)
Decks2.5 acres (110,000 sq ft; 10,000 m2)
Propulsion
Speed28 kn (52 km/h)
Range8,000 nmi (15,000 km)[4]
Complement1,400 (incl air crew)
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		C/D band early air-warning radar[4]
Armament
Aircraft carried

The Vikrant class (formerly Project 71 Air Defence Ship (ADS) or Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)) is a class of aircraft carrier being built for the Indian Navy. The class represents the largest warships and the first aircraft carriers to be designed and built in India.

Preparations for building the lead vessel of the class, INS Vikrant, started in 2008, and the keel was laid in February 2009. The carrier was floated out of its dry dock on 29 December 2011,[7] launched on 12 August 2013 and commissioned on 2 September 2022.[8] [9] The scale and complexity of the project caused problems which delayed the commencement and timeline of construction for the carrier. Technical difficulties, the cost of refitting the Russian-built carrier INS Vikramaditya, and billions in cost overruns[10] delayed plans for the first of the vessels to enter service.[11]

  1. ^ "'India speeds up the design of second domestic aircraft carrier". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Indian Navy seeks EMALS system for second Vikrant-class aircraft carrier". 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013.
  3. ^ "India eyes US aircraft carrier technology as arms ties deepen". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference DN449 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Indians Discuss Future Carrier Plans". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012.
  6. ^ "List of Aircraft Carriers Under Construction: 2013". World Defense Review. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Navy floats out first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier". The Hindu. 30 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  8. ^ "PM Commissions INS Vikrant". Press Trust of India. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  9. ^ India launches first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant Archived 20 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine Times of India 12 August 2013
  10. ^ "Should India Be Building Another Carrier?". Defense News. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.
  11. ^ Pandit, Rajat (27 July 2016). "India without aircraft carrier for 8 months". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.