As the first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is undergoing rigorous sea trials prior to its likely induction into the Navy in August this year, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu visited the ship on
Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to dedicate the aircraft carrier to the nation in August.
The Cochin Shipyard Limited is building this ship and Naidu was briefed on the uniqueness of the project and progress of construction. He was also briefed about efforts being made towards ship’s delivery and commissioning prior August 2022 to commemorate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
The Vice President was appreciative of the nation’s capability in designing and constructing an Aircraft Carrier and lauded it as a shining example of our quest for ‘Atma Nirbharta’ or self-reliant India, navy officials said here.
Underlining the need for an aircraft carrier, they said the Indian Navy is a formidable resident maritime power in the Indian Ocean Region and the Aircraft Carrier Battle Group remains central to its concept of operations.
Vikrant will provide the Indian Navy with the requisite flexibility, mobility, reach and combat power in pursuance of national interests and also serve as a strong catalyst for peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
An Aircraft Carrier also holds a position of strategic and technological eminence, and is rightly considered the pinnacle in the domain of warship design and construction. With the construction of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, India will enter into select band of countries having niche indigenous capability for designing and building of an Aircraft Carrier. At present, India has one Russian made aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
The Indian shipbuilding industry has come a long way since the 1960s with Vikrant being the hallmark of India’s indigenous industrial capability. The indigenous content in construction of the ship is close to 76% of overall project cost of Rs 19,341 Crores.
The ship has large number of indigenous materials such as steel, besides other equipment and systems manufactured by Indian industrial houses and about 100 MSMEs. The indigenous construction of the carrier has generated employment opportunities not only within the shipyard but also for many other industries supporting the project externally.
This has resulted in a “plough back” effect on the domestic economy. Close to 2,000 shipyard and 13,000 non-yard personnel have been employed per annum towards construction of the aircraft carrier.
During the visit, Naidu was accompanied by Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief of Staff Southern Naval Command Rear Admiral Antony George, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) chief Madhu S Nair, and other senior officials of Navy.
The Vice President was briefed about the contribution of the indigenous technologies and capabilities during the walk around of the carrier and he expressed satisfaction and appreciated the efforts of the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard towards strengthening our Indigenous warship building capabilities. He also expressed satisfaction at the progress of work made so far despite COVID related imponderables.
Later, Naidu visited Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and unveiled Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial. He also laid the foundation stone of a Towed Array Integration Facility and handed over an Automated Sonar Trainer to the Navy. Naidu is on a three-day visit to Kerala and arrived at Kochi Naval airport on Sunday morning, after his tour of Lakshadweep.