1999 approved the construction of 2009 keel laying took 20 years of
India's first aircraft carrier was finally made in China sea trials
Aircraft carriers have always been regarded as the "standard equipment" of the navies of major powers, and India, which has always been dreaming of a "great power", is no exception.
According to the plan of the Indian Naval Command, India should have at least three aircraft carriers, one on each of the east and west coasts, and the other as a backup.
At present, in addition to the aircraft carrier named "Vikramatia" presented by Russia, India's first domestically-made aircraft carrier "Vikrant" finally began its first sea test on August 4th...
India’s first domestically-produced aircraft carrier, the Vikrant, whose construction progress has been delayed repeatedly, finally has some good news. According to Indian media reports on August 4, the Vikrant started its first sea trial on the same day.
Although the Indian media regards the first sea trial of the "Vikrant" aircraft carrier as an "important milestone", in fact, the construction progress of this aircraft carrier has fallen far behind the original plan-since 1999, this ship The aircraft carrier has been built for more than 20 years...
Official announcement of "Proud Historic Moment"
On August 4, India’s self-built aircraft carrier "Vikrant" was launched from the Cochin Shipyard for the first sea trial. The spokesperson of the Indian Navy could not hide their excitement and said on social media "Twitter", "This is for India. It’s a proud historic moment.” Especially this aircraft carrier represents a step forward for “Made in India”. “India has joined the ranks of countries that have the ability to independently design, build and integrate advanced aircraft carriers. The epidemic challenged, but India still reached this milestone."
Carrying out sea trials means one step closer to service, and the Indians have waited for this moment for too long.
It is reported that the construction of the "Vikrant" began in 1999.
The ship was designed by the Indian Naval Design Bureau, and the Cochin Shipyard was responsible for the construction.
According to previous reports from the Indian media, the Vekrant was 260 meters long and 60 meters wide. It was designed with a partial stealth design. Carrier fighter jets and helicopters), relying on four gas turbines as power, can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots, and can continuously sail 8,000 nautical miles.
On board the Indian Defense Minister inspected last month
Indian Defense Minister Rajnat Singh visited the "Vikrant" under construction on June 25 and expressed satisfaction with the construction progress of the "Vikrant" and announced the "Vikrant". No. has completed the final outfitting stage.
Judging from the photos released by the Indian military, the "Vikrant" hull equipment has been installed in place.
According to the report, after boarding the aircraft carrier, Rajnat Singh said that the "Vikrant" aircraft carrier is scheduled to enter service in early 2022, which will increase the combat capability, combat range and versatility of the Indian Navy. Combat capability, combat range and versatility will enhance our country’s strong defense capabilities and help ensure India’s maritime interests.” He also added: “The first domestically-made aircraft carrier will enter service next year, which will be the 75th anniversary of India’s independence. Tribute to."
Singh also stated that the domestic production rate of the "Vikrant" design, aircraft carrier steel, weapon systems and sensors is close to 75%, which is a "model" of "self-reliance" proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Delayed construction progress affected by the epidemic
Although the epidemic has caused a certain delay, the construction of the "Vikrant" has made great progress in the past two years.
According to the Indian media "Indian Express", the mooring test of the "Vikrant" aircraft carrier was completed on November 30 last year, so the sea trial was originally planned to be completed earlier this year, but due to the outbreak of the new crown epidemic in India Because of this, India has postponed the process of sea trials.
A source confirmed the current status of the "Vikrant", "The sea trial was originally planned to be completed earlier this year, but due to the impact of the epidemic, various tasks that could have been completed were delayed."
In fact, as early as May last year, some Indian navy sources said that the new crown pneumonia epidemic has delayed the construction of the aircraft carrier for 6 months. If the epidemic-related restrictions continue to be implemented, the delay may be longer.
The report quoted sources as saying that the Indian government has implemented various strict epidemic prevention and control measures. Under such circumstances, a large number of personnel related to aircraft carrier testing cannot participate in the work, and foreign engineers cannot reach India.
Service costs have also risen all the way
"Vikrant" is the first ship of India's Vikrant-class aircraft carrier and India's first self-built aircraft carrier-the "IAC Plan" (also known as Project No. 71) approved by the Indian Parliament in 1999, agreed to be manufactured by the Indian Navy A domestic aircraft carrier.
The aircraft carrier began construction in 2009, laying the keel, but the construction progress has been delayed again and again, and the progress is far behind the original plan.
However, starting from 2019, the aircraft carrier’s outfitting work is progressing smoothly, and key equipment such as the ship’s island and power system have been gradually installed. On November 30 last year, the four engines of the Vikrant were successfully operated. The key equipment such as gearbox, main shaft, variable pitch propeller and integrated control system have all passed the test.
Therefore, the date of service of the ship has been postponed from 2014 to 2018, and it is now postponed to 2022.
Behind the repeated delays, the cost of construction has risen all the way.
In 2015, the Defense Committee of the Indian Parliament revealed that the cost of the "Vikrant" aircraft carrier will exceed US$2.81 billion, a six-fold increase from the original budget, which was 30 billion rupees before.
Now, according to Indian media, the cost of the "Vikrant" has exceeded 3.5 billion U.S. dollars.
The choice of subsequent carrier-based aircraft is pending
Although the "Vikrant" aircraft carrier service time is planned for early 2022, as of now, the choice of carrier aircraft is still pending.
Some Indian media claimed that after the "Vikrant" was commissioned, of the carrier-based aircraft that the ship could carry, 26 of them were Russian MiG-29K carrier-based fighters, and the rest were carrier-based helicopters, including Russian ones. Ka-31 shipborne early warning helicopter, British Westland Sea King helicopter and "Polaris" helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aerospace Manufacturing Group.
However, it is said that the Indian Navy is not satisfied with the originally planned MiG-29K carrier-based fighter. It has also observed the ski jump of the US-made F/A-18 and the landing of the LCA "Glorious" fighter jet independently developed by the country. take off.
In the construction of military power, India will continue to promote localization-after the completion of the "Vikrant" aircraft carrier, India will focus on submarines.
The Indian Navy plans to build six conventional submarines in the country through international cooperation by 2030. The new submarines will have the capability of not relying on air propulsion systems and submarine-launched "BrahMos" supersonic missiles. The project will cost $7.5 billion.
Indo-made aircraft carrier launched three times into a laughing stock
On December 3, 2002, the then Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy, Madvendra Singh, confirmed that the Indian government had approved the plan to build an aircraft carrier by itself.
On March 9, 2004, the Press Trust of India reported that the drawing design of India's domestic aircraft carrier was about to be completed.
On February 28, 2009, India’s first self-developed aircraft carrier held a keel installation ceremony at the Cochin Shipyard.
This aircraft carrier was once named "Blue Guardian", and later renamed "Vikrant" to commemorate the first aircraft carrier purchased from the UK.
This time, the "Vikrant" has gone through more than 12 years from laying the keel to the sea trial. In fact, the construction experience of the "Vikrant" has caused a lot of international jokes, such as three times before and after. "Into the water".
First launch-December 29, 2011
India officially placed the keel at the Cochin Shipyard on February 28, 2009, and began the long road to construction of the "Vikrant" aircraft carrier. The Indian Navy, which was first estimated to have served in around 2014, did not expect that this tow will last for many years.
On December 29, 2011, only 30% of the ship’s hull was completed. The "Vikrant" was launched in the Cochin Shipyard, which made the whole country happy. However, what everyone did not expect was that the launch was not the aircraft carrier. After the construction was completed, looking at the photos of the aircraft carrier, it was discovered that it had no bridge at all and the deck had not been laid.
It was revealed later that the construction period of the "Vikrant" was seriously delayed, and the dock was occupied for too long, which affected the shipyard's rotation, so it had to be launched temporarily to make room.
The Vikrant was soaked in water at the berth, waiting for other ships to be built.
Second launch-August 12, 2013
In 2012, the Vikrant returned to the dock again to continue construction and installation of equipment.
On August 12, 2013, the "Vikrant" was launched again in the southern Indian port of Cochin. At this time, the construction of the hull was only 75% completed.
The reason for this launch is similar to that of the first launch, both for the purpose of providing berth cycles for other ships.
A few months after the second soak, the Vikrant returned to the dock again.
The third launch-May 28, 2015
At the end of 2014, the "Vikrant" aircraft carrier finally made new progress after a year of silence, and the construction of ship island facilities has begun.
On May 28, 2015, after the third launch of the aircraft carrier "Vikrant", which was basically shaped, the outfitting work started, but progress was slow, and there was no improvement until the first half of 2019.
Generally speaking, it takes about 1 to 2 years for outfitting of a large and complex warship such as an aircraft carrier. India has used it for 6 years.
India will usher in the "dual carrier" era
After India’s domestically-produced aircraft carrier "Vikrant" enters service, India will also usher in the "dual carrier" era-before this, India currently has only one aircraft carrier in operation, the "Vikramatia" that entered service in 2013 Number, which is the original Russian "Admiral Gorshkov".
This aircraft carrier joined the former Soviet Navy in 1987 and was renamed "Admiral Gorshkov" in 1995. However, due to high maintenance costs, it was decommissioned in 1996.
Later, Russia, which was short of funds, offered to give the aircraft carrier as a gift to India free of charge. As long as India paid for the modernization of the aircraft carrier and the purchase of carrier-based aircraft, the two sides hit it off.
In 2004, India and Russia finally signed a 1.5 billion U.S. dollar aircraft carrier upgrade agreement.
According to the plan, the aircraft carrier should be delivered to India in August 2008. However, due to the slow progress of the modification project and the refurbishment update, the two parties conducted a new price negotiation, which delayed the delivery of the aircraft carrier by more than 5 years.
The soaring cost of this aircraft carrier also made the Indian media indignant: the modification of the aircraft carrier cost US$2.33 billion.
If equipped with 45 MiG-29Ks and other equipment, the total cost will be higher.
India believes that from the beginning of the conversion, "Russia is like milking India, and the fierce quarrel between the two sides has affected the relations between the two countries."
Will have F-35B takeoff and landing capabilities
India’s domestically-produced aircraft carrier "Vikrant" is about to enter service, and the Japanese helicopter carrier "Izumo" has completed the first phase of its carrier transformation.
Japan's "Yomiuri Shimbun" stated on July 27 that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force "Izumo" is undergoing a transformation in the direction of "aircraft carrier".
It is reported that the "Izumo" class has a full-load displacement of 27,000 tons and uses a through deck similar to an aircraft carrier, so it is called a "quasi-aircraft carrier" by the outside world.
The ship can carry up to more than 20 helicopters and take off and land 5 helicopters at the same time.
Currently, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is equipped with two "Izumo" class helicopter carriers, namely the "Izumo" and the "Kaga".
In December 2018, the Japanese cabinet meeting approved a new version of the "Defense Plan Outline", in which the "mid-term defense" includes the promotion of the modification of the "Izumo" to carry the F-35B fighter.
Kyodo News previously published an article that the transformed "Izumo" class can carry 18 F-35B fighters.
It is reported that the "Izumo" conversion work is divided into two phases. The first phase of the conversion started at the Yokohama Japan Joint Shipyard in March 2020 is to increase the F-35B combat capability of the "Izumo". The conversion work will last for five years. A large-scale regular maintenance is carried out together.
In the first stage of the modification, the "Izumo" was coated with a yellow marking line that penetrates the flight deck from stern to bow, which was required to dispatch the F-35B. In addition, it was also coated with a heat-resistant coating.
In the second phase of the modification, the shape of the bow of the "Izumo" will be changed from the current trapezoidal shape to a rectangle, making the F-35B easier to operate, and the internal cabin modification is also planned.
In addition, the sister ship "Kaga" of the "Izumo" will also undergo a similar modification.
The difference is that "Kaga" will complete most of the two-stage modification of "Izumo" at one time, including changes in the shape of the bow.
Comprehensive news from this newspaper