Vikrant Class Aircraft Carrier
The Vikrant-class (formerly Project 71 Air Defence Ship (ADS) or Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)) are a class of two aircraft carriers being built for the Indian Navy. The two vessels are being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), they are the largest warships as well as the first aircraft carriers to be designed and built in India.
The first ship of the class INS Vikrant will displace about 40,000 metric tons (39,000 long tons), be 262 metres (860 ft) long and have a tailored air group of up to thirty aircraft.
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. The scale and complexity of the project caused a number of problems which delayed the commencement and timeline of construction for the carrier. Technical difficulties the huge cost of refitting a Russian-built carrier and billions in cost overruns has seen the lead vessel now entering service in 2017 rather than a previous in service date of 2014. Additional 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.
Read more about Vikrant Class Aircraft Carrier: Background, Mission, Carrier Air Group, Construction
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