August 8, 2013
Kochi, India
The launch of the Air Defence Ship, the largest military ship and first aircraft carrier to be built in India, in Kochi on Monday is a historic step. It not only sends out the right signals about India's ability to build such a complex naval platform, but also shows the country's growing capabilities in ship building. And most importantly, India's growing ambition to build a truly 'blue water' navy that can reach across the oceans to protect its interests-- be it minerals and commodities in Africa and Latin America or oil and gases from Middle East.
The indigenous aircraft carrier, first of the two being built under the Vikrant class, is expected to join the navy by 2018, by when INS Vikramaditya, the Russian aircraft carrier set to join service in a few months, would have become the focus of a powerful carrier battle group. The Vikrant class indigenous carrier would become the centrepiece of a second carrier battle group.
The 40,000 tonne ship takes India to a select club of countries that can build an aircraft carrier. The carrier is being built from indigenously produced high grade warship steel, made by the Steel Authority of India.
Besides the Russian MIG-29K fighters, the carrier could also end up having naval version of the indigenously made light combat aircraft (LCA) on board. The carrier would also have long range surface-to-air missiles (LRSAM) being developed by Israel, and other weapon systems.
