INS Vikrant will be delivered by 2021, fighter jet trials soon after that, Navy says

Top naval officer says construction of the indigenous aircraft carrier, at the Cochin Shipyard, is progressing at a 'brisk pace'.

The INS Vikrant (representational image) | Indian Navy

New Delhi: Indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is being built at a brisk pace and will be ready for delivery by early 2021, a top naval officer said Monday. The warship had missed its 2018 deadline, and there had been speculation of a further delay in its commissioning.

Vice Admiral A.K. Saxena, controller, warship production and acquisition, Indian Navy, however, said, “The construction is moving at a brisk pace. The gas turbines could be fired in the third quarter of this year. Basin trials will follow and so will the testing of the aviation complex.”

Saxena was addressing the media at the curtain raiser event of a seminar, ‘Nation Building through Shipbuilding’, scheduled to be held on 25-26 July.

The vice admiral said fighter jet trials for INS Vikrant would follow soon after the Navy is handed over the aircraft carrier. While the light combat aircraft for the Navy has been delayed, the force has floated a Request For Information (RFI) for 57 deck-based fighters.

The carrier is being made by Cochin Shipyard Limited.

Submarines to have indigenous components

Saxena further said the next generation submarines, to be produced after the completion of the submarine programme Project 75-I, could have over 50 per cent of indigenous components. The Ministry of Defence had last month floated an expression of interest inviting firms to manufacture six submarines under the programme.

On the second indigenous aircraft carrier IAC-2, Saxena said the government has nearly accepted the requirement, and the project, which is on the drawing board at present, is being deliberated upon.

At the moment, it is about the availability of finances versus the requirement for it, he said.

The only aircraft carrier that India operates at present is the INS Vikramaditya.

Talking about Reliance Naval being issued the request for proposal (RFP) for the new missile boats, Saxena said the firm had the technical capability and its financial capabilities will be checked after the RFP stage.