Conceptual illustration of Vikrant class carrier |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Project 71 (Vikrant class aircraft carrier) |
| Builders: | Cochin Shipyard Limited |
| Operators: | Indian Navy |
| Built: | 2009- |
| In commission: | 2015- |
| Building: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Vikrant Class |
| Type: | Aircraft Carrier |
| Displacement: | 40,000+ tonnes[1] |
| Length: | 262 metres (860 ft) |
| Beam: | 60 metres (200 ft) |
| Draught: | 8.4 metres (28 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 4 General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines, driving two shafts. |
| Speed: | 28 kn (52 km/h) |
| Range: | 7,500 nmi (13,900 km) |
| Complement: | 1,400 (incl air crew) |
| Armament: | 4x Otobreda 76 mm and various point defence SAM and CIWS |
| Aircraft carried: | 29 Mikoyan MiG-29K or HAL Tejas 10 Kamov Ka-31 or Westland Sea King |
The Vikrant class aircraft carriers (formerly, the Project 71 "Air Defence Ship" (ADS)) are the first aircraft carriers to be designed and built in India. They are being built for the Indian Navy by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
The Vikrant class carriers will be the largest warships built in India. The scale and complexity of the project caused a number of teething problems which delayed the commencement and timeline of constuction for the carrier. The 2010 revised timeline had the lead vessel entering service in 2016. Problems which led to the delay included the inability of Russia to supply the AB/A grade steel. Finally, the DMRL and SAIL created facilities to manufacture the carrier-grade steel in India.[2]
Preparations for building the lead vessel of the class started in 2008, and the keel was laid in February 2009. The carrier was floated out of its dry dock on 29 December 2011.[3]
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In 1989 India announced a plan to replace its aging British-built aircraft carriers INS Vikrant (R11) and INS Viraat (R22) with two new 28,000 ton Air Defence Ships (ADS). The first vessel was to replace INS Vikrant, which was set to decommission in early 1997. Construction of the ADS was to start at the Cochin Shipyard (CSL) in 1993 after the Indian Naval Design Organisation had translated this design study into a production model. Following the 1991 economic crisis, the plans for construction of the vessels were put on hold.
In 2001, CSL released a graphic showing the 32,000-ton STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) design with a pronounced ski jump.[4] The aircraft carrier project finally received formal government approval in January 2003. By that time, design updates called for a 37,500 ton displacement carrier that would carry more modern jet fighters like the MiG-29K and not the Sea Harriers as originally planned.
In August 2006, then Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash stated that the designation for the vessel had been changed from Air Defence Ship (ADS) to Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC). The euphemistic ADS had been adopted in planning stages to ward off concerns about a naval build-up.
Final revisions to the design increased the displacement of the carriers from the earlier 37,000 tons to over 40,000 tons. The length of the ship also increased from 252 metres (827 ft) to 260 metres (850 ft).[5]
In April 2011, Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma stated that construction of the second indigenous carrier was some years away as there were a number of higher spending priorities for the navy.[6] The design of the second carrier features significant changes which would increase displacement to over 65,000 tons and utilise steam catapults. In 2010, Admiral Verma had stated "It will be much bigger and capable of operating fighters, AEW (airborne early-warning) aircraft, tankers etc,".[7][8]
The lead Vikrant class carrier features a STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration with a ski-jump. The deck is designed to enable aircraft such as the MiG-29 to operate from the carrier.[2]
The Vikrant class carriers will be designed to deploy up to 40 aircraft, primarily the Mikoyan MiG-29K and the naval variant of the HAL Tejas Mark 2, including 10 Kamov Ka-31 or Westland Sea King helicopters. The Ka-31 fulfills the airborne early warning (AEW) role and the Sea King provides anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability.
The carrier will be powered by four General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines on two shafts. The gearboxes for the carriers are designed and supplied by Elecon Engineering.[3]
Among the first problems that the construction of the carrier faced was the lack of supply of carrier-grade steel. The Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory worked with the SAIL to create production facilities for the appropriate steel grade in India.[3]
The keel for the lead vessel of the class, to be named INS Vikrant, was laid by Defence Minister A.K. Antony at the Cochin Shipyard on 28 February 2009.[9][10] The ship will use modular construction, with 874 blocks to be joined together for the hull. By the time the keel was laid, 423 blocks weighing over 8,000 tons had been completed.[11]
The construction plan called for the carrier to be launched in 2010 when it would have completed some 20,000 tonnes, as it could not be launched at a higher displacement from the building bay. After about a year’s development in the refit dock, the carrier will be launched again when all major components, including underwater systems, would be in place. Outfitting would then be carried out after launch. As per the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) plan, sea trials were initially planned to commence in 2013, with the ship to be commissioned in 2014.[12][13]
In March 2011, it was reported that the project had been affected by the delay in delivery of the huge main gearboxes for the carrier. The supplier, Elecon Engineering, had to work around a number of technical complexities due to the length of the propulsion shafts.[14] Other issues resulting in delays included an accident with a diesel generator and an issue with its alignment.[15]
In August 2011, the defence ministry reported to the Lok Sabha that 75% of the construction work for the hull of the lead carrier had been completed and the carrier would be first launched in December 2011, following which further works would be completed until commissioning.[16][17]
On 29 December 2011, the carrier was first floated out of its dry dock at CSL, with its displacement at 14,000 tonnes. Interior works and fittings on the hull would be carried out on the carrier until the second half of 2012, when it would again be dry-docked for integration with its propulsion and power generation systems.[3]
| Name | Pennant | Tonnage | Laid down | Launched | Sea trials | Commissioning | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INS Vikrant | 40,000 | 28 Feb 2009 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014[18] | Conventional-powered STOBAR carrier | |
| INS Vishal | 65,000 | Mid 2011 | 2015 | 2017 [19] | Conventional-powered CATOBAR carrier |
India considered a number of aircraft for operation from its INS Vikramaditya and the planned indigenous aircraft carrier. India evaluated the Russian Sukhoi Su-33, but settled on the lighter Mikoyan MiG-29K as the Vikramaditya was smaller and lacked an aircraft catapult.[20] It is likely that the Vikrant class carriers will also operate the Mig-29K.
On 18 January 2010, it was reported that India and Russia were close to signing a deal for 29 Mig 29k fighters to operate from IAC1.[21] In addition, the navy signed a deal for six naval-variants of the HAL Tejas.[22]
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