New Delhi inaugurates its “made in India” aircraft carrier with great fanfare

Indian Navy officers gather on the deck of the Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant during its commissioning at the Cochin Shipyard in Kochi on September 2, 2022. © AFP - ARUN SANKAR

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India inaugurates with great fanfare its first aircraft carrier manufactured entirely by its shipyards.

262 meters long, it can accommodate up to 30 planes or helicopters.

The Prime Minister wants to make it a historic day and has changed the Indian Navy logo for the occasion.

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With our correspondent in Bangalore, 

Advertising clips tout the largest ship ever built by the Indian Navy.

The

project , "brave" in Hindi, was started 22 years ago and will have cost almost three billion euros.

Despite the delays and additional costs,

is now pleased to join the closed club of nations capable of assembling strategic aircraft carriers.

At a large gathering near the port of Cochin, where it was assembled,

praised the merits of Indian engineers.

For the Prime Minister, this “made in India” aircraft carrier is one more step towards the self-sufficiency he has given the country as an objective.

"

 " said the leader.

To this effect, the government has unveiled a new symbol for the Indian Navy, paying homage to Hindu King Shivaji.

The Congress Party for its part recalled that the construction of this aircraft carrier was the work of all the governments of India.

About 39 ships and submarines are under construction in the various shipyards of the country.

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• India

• Defense

• Narendra Damodardas Modi