Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant to be combat ready by May 2023, act as deterrent to China
India Today
After being commissioned on September 2, indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will be combat ready by May 2023. It will act as a deterrent amid China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean region.
Energy is high on board INS Vikrant as final preparations and checks are in full swing ahead of the commissioning of the indigenously built aircraft carrier on September 2.
The ship will be Indian Naval Ship or INS Vikrant officially after the commissioning.
The massive warship is abuzz with a myriad of activities: from rehearsals for the guard of honour, checks on the two massive lifts meant to take aircraft from the hangar to the flying deck, to last minute finishing touches with fresh paint.
A MiG 29K and a Kamov helicopter are parked in the hangar, and they will soon be joined by a fleet of 30 aircraft -- 18 MiG 29s and 12 choppers. Other than Kamov, the newly inducted MH60 Romeo helicopters bought from the US, with potent anti-submarine warfare capabilities will also be on board.
The flying deck that’s 262 metres in length and 62.4 meters wide and can make up for two football fields, has two clearly demarcated runways with spots circled for helicopters.
Three galleys or the cooking area can roll out close to 10,000 chapatis a day. The cooking areas are all set with new gadgets, roti makers to ensure the personnel onboard don’t go hungry as the ship sails.
Soon after the commissioning on September 2 at a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kochi, the ship will set sail, and fighter jets will take off from the ski jump and soar high into the sky.
