Indigenous Aircraft carrier

• India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) would be commissioned as INS Vikrant in the first half of 2022, which would be the most potent sea-based asset.
• Aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft.

INS Vikrant:

• It is also known as the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 or IAC-1.
• The project is significant in light of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative as 75% of its materials and onboard equipment are indigenously developed.
• The motto of INS Vikrant is “Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah”.
• It was taken from Rig Veda which means ” I defeat those who fight against me”.

Features:

• The ship shall operate MiG-29K fighter aircraft, Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters,
• Soon MH-60R multi-role helicopter and the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters would be inducted.
• It would offer an incomparable military instrument with its ability to project Air Power over long distances, including Air Interdiction, Anti-Surface Warfare, offensive and defensive Counter-Air, Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare and Airborne Early Warning.
• It has 45,000 tons of loaded displacement.
• Currently, India has only one Aircraft Carrier --- INS Vikramaditya (refurbished Admiral Gorshkov inducted from Russia in November 2013).

INS Vishal:

• It is also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 2(IAC-2), is a planned aircraft carrier to be built by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy.