Vikrant Class Aircraft Carrier - Construction

Construction

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.

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. 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.

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.

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. Other issues resulting in delays included an accident with a diesel generator and an issue with its alignment.

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. On 29 December 2011, the completed hull of the carrier was first floated out of its dry dock at CSL, with its displacement at over 14,000 tonnes. Interior works and fittings on the hull would be carried out until the second half of 2012, when it would again be dry-docked for integration with its propulsion and power generation systems.

In July 2012, The Times of India reported that construction of the Vikrant has been delayed by 3 years, and the ship would be ready for commissioning by 2017.

On Nov 21, NDTV reported that cost of the aircraft carrier increase and delayed by at least five years and is expected to be with the Indian Navy only after 2018 as against the scheduled date of delivery of 2014.