The ship will offer an incomparable military instrument with its ability to project air power over long distances

India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier would be commissioned as INS Vikrant in the first half of 2022, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday while reviewing the progress of the construction of the ship at the Cochin Shipyard.

According to the Ministry of Defence statement, the aircraft carrier will operate MiG-29K fighter aircraft, Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters, the soon to be inducted MH-60R multi-role helicopter and the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters.

It would offer an incomparable military instrument with its ability to project Air Power over long distances, including Air Interdiction, Anti-Surface Warfare, offensive and defensive Counter-Air, Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare and Airborne Early Warning.

To take first-hand account of the building of the ship, the Defence Minister visited the construction site at Kochi in Kerala where he was briefed about the successful basin trials of the ship completed in November 2020.

He was also appraised of the progress achieved on integration of a number of other navigational, communication and operational systems since then, as it prepares for its maiden Contractor Sea Trials (CST) which is expected in the forthcoming months.

The Defence Minister said the indigenously built aircraft carrier has nearly 75 per cent indigenous content - from design to steel used in construction to key weapons and sensors.

He recalled a recent approval accorded by the Defence Acquisition Council for RFP of Project 75-I under the Strategic Partnership model, which will give further fillip to indigenous development of niche manufacturing technologies.

Rajnath Singh highlighted the combat capability, reach and versatility of the aircraft carrier, saying that it will add formidable capabilities in the defence of the country and help secure India's interests in maritime domain.

Appreciating the fact that significant progress was made on the construction of IAC despite COVID-19, he said the commissioning of IAC will be a befitting tribute to 75 years of India's independence.

During the Defence Minister’s visit, an exhibition showcasing Indian Navy's various ongoing innovations, indigenisation and operations aligning with the nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic was also organized.

The major exhibits included the Oxygen Recycling System (ORS), which is currently under clinical trials at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology; Navrakshak PPE and masks currently being used in PM CARES Hospitals; Remote Patient Monitoring System and several such other innovations which had provided affordable, effective and user-friendly medical solutions.

The Defence Minister was also apprised about the assistance rendered to civil agencies such as the Fire Safety Audit of hospitals and specialised training on PSA Oxygen Plants in addition to an overview of the Samudra Setu II and Oxygen Express Operations.

Rajnath Singh also interacted with 10-year-old Veer Kashyap, a student of Navy Children School Kochi, who had won the Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar 2021 for developing an innovative board game 'Corona Yuga' for educating and creating awareness about the pandemic among the public at large.

He was also informed about the activities being conducted and planned by Indian Navy towards ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ being celebrated by the Armed Forces to commemorate the victory of 1971 war and ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India's Independence.

Rajnath Singh also visited some of the training establishments under Southern Naval Command and appreciated the efforts of the Indian Navy for continuously providing professional training not only to the Officers and Sailors of Indian Navy but also to friendly foreign Navies even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

He interacted with the officers and sailors of the Kochi area over lunch traditionally called 'Barakhana'.

The Defence Minister expressed satisfaction at the progress of construction of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, describing it as a shining example of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.