India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant (IAC) conducted its first sea trials on 04 August 2021. It is the largest and most complex warship built in the country. The Indian Navy has described it as a proud and historic day for the country.
With this, India has become one of the countries to have indigenously designed, built and integrated state-of-the-art aircraft carriers of exceptional capability. It has been named the ship that played an important role in the 1971 war.
According to the Navy, this is also a unique example of ‘Self-reliant India’ and ‘Make in India’ because Vikrant is the largest warship of the country so far, which has been built by India itself.
India currently has only one aircraft carrier ‘INS Vikramaditya’. The Indian Navy is emphasizing on significantly increasing its overall capability in view of China’s increasing efforts to increase military presence in the Indian Ocean region.
The Vikrant aircraft carrier weighs 40,000 tonnes and is ready for sea trials for the first time. A ship with its name played an important role in the 1971 war 50 years ago.
This aircraft carrier is likely to be inducted into the Indian Navy next year. It has been built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore. It is manufactured by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
