India’s Vikrant aircraft carrier begins sea trials
The indigenously-built, 40,000-ton warship is expected to enter service in 2022

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The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and being constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has reached an important milestone with the beginning of sea trials.

‘Most of the ship construction activities have been completed and the ship has entered the trials phase’, according to the Indian Navy, with more than 76 percent indigenous content. “During the maiden sailing, ship’s performance, including hull, main propulsion, PGD and auxiliary equipment would be closely watched,” said the navy in a statement.

The IAC-1 project has been delayed by four years, with expectations in 2010 of these sea trials to be conducted in 2014.

While basin trials were completed last November, with the ‘readiness of ship’s propulsion and power generation equipment/ systems’ ‘tested in harbour’, sea trials experienced delays because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

“Though the commencement of Sea Trials was delayed due to the 2nd wave of COVID, with concentrated and dedicated efforts of large number of workmen, OEMs, engineers, overseers, inspectors, designers and the ship’s crew, who had put their heart and soul towards the ship’s readiness for sea trials,” said the navy.

These Contractor Sea Trials will be conducted over the next few months and the Vikrant is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2022.

This is the first aircraft carrier being built by India and with its successful entry into service, India will join a handful of nations capable of building their own aircraft carrier. In another first, the Vikrant includes ‘specialised cabins to accommodate women officers’.

The construction of the Vikrant, the second of its name, has led to a growth of ancillary industries and employment associated with the program. This has meant ’employment opportunities for 2000 CSL personnel and about 12000 employees in ancillary industries’. “Around 550 Indian firms including about 100 MSMEs are registered with CSL, who are providing various services for construction of IAC,” said the navy.

The navy also has plans for a larger, Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR), second aircraft carrier (IAC-2), but it is yet to be approved. Meanwhile, 44 ships and submarines ordered by the Indian Navy are under construction in India. The Vikrant is a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) carrier. News media reports have suggested that the Vikrant will be based at the Larsen & Toubro shipyard at Kattupalli in Tamil Nadu, after commissioning, pending the completion of the aircraft carrier’s permanent base at Visakhapatnam.