China News Service, May 31. According to the "Indian Defense News" report, India's first self-designed and built aircraft carrier "Vikrant" is expected to enter service on August 15, 2022, becoming the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. Two aircraft carriers.
This marks India as one of the few countries in the world that can build its own aircraft carrier.
FILE PHOTO: The aircraft carrier USS Vikrant.
According to reports, August 15 is India's "Independence Day", and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the commissioning ceremony of the aircraft carrier on that day.
"Vikrant" is a multi-purpose aircraft carrier with a total of 5 decks. The uppermost flight deck is designed with a ski-jump deck, which can meet the take-off requirements of fixed-wing carrier-based aircraft.
There are two take-off runways and one landing runway on the flight deck, as well as 14 fighter parking spaces and 6 helicopter take-off and landing points, which can carry up to more than 20 fighter jets and 10 helicopters.
The Indian government will purchase 26 carrier-based fighter jets to deploy on the aircraft carrier by August 15.
India is currently comparing between the French Rafale and the American F-18 Hornet, picking the carrier-based aircraft.
Testing of the Rafale was completed in January, and testing of the F-18 Hornet is expected to be completed by June 15.
Design work on the Vikrant began in 1999 and was officially launched in August 2013.
In August 2021, the ship began its first sea trials.
After the ship is officially commissioned in August, it is expected to form a full operational capability in 2023.
The "Vikrant" was designed by the Indian Naval Design Bureau and built by the Cochin Shipyard.
The ship is about 260 meters long, 60 meters wide, and has a displacement of about 40,000 tons. It can carry about 30 carrier-based aircraft, with a maximum speed of 28 knots and a sustainable voyage of 8,000 nautical miles.