INS Vikrant (IAC1) & INS Vikramaditya - News & Discussions

Security upped as Vikrant enters critical testing before sea trials

An MoD statement said trials of gas turbines, main engines and power generation systems were conducted successfully.

By Ajay Kanth
Express News Service
Published: 29th January 2020 06:13 AM
NIA_may_take_over.jpg

File photo of aircraft carrier Vikrant being constructed by Cochin Shipyard. | (File | EPS)

KOCHI: As the country’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant undergoes engine test for advanced-level basin trials before venturing into the sea for trials by end of 2020, Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has put in tight security measures including biometric access for staff to prevent a repeat of September 2019 sabotage incident. The probe by National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the stealing of the hardware drives of Integrated Platform Management System (IMPS) from the vessel has so far not yielded any result. But, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) clarified that the stolen parts were certain Commercially Off The shelf hardware items from Multi Function Consoles (MFCs) of the IPMS.

Sources told TNIE that the security parameters at the Shipyard have been revised by implementing additional measures as the aircraft carrier has entered a critical stage of operational protocol before the commencement of sea trials. “Apart from biometric access control, additional force has also been deployed for strengthening the security.

Only key persons will be given access to compartments inside the vessel containing sensitive hardware and softwares,” an official said. A core team comprising Central Industrial Security Force, Intelligence Bureau and Kerala Police is regularly reviewing the security of the shipyard. “Strict monitoring is being done on third party vendors who are associated with various projects,” the official said.

An MoD statement said trials of gas turbines, main engines and power generation systems were conducted successfully. “IAC had successfully completed the pre-contractors sea trials dry dock work package in December 2019. Basin trials are conducted for proving of the propulsion, transmission and shafting systems and is scheduled in early half of 2020. The aircraft carrier would be ready to commence the sea trials once the basin trials are successfully completed,” the statement said.

What is Basin trial ?

Basin trial is the testing of the ship’s machinery and equipment in floating conditions before the commencement of sea trials

What is sea trials ?

Series of tests are carried out in the sea after final outfitting and launching of the vessel before the formal induction into the Indian Navy.

Security upped as Vikrant enters critical testing before sea trials
 
Gautam said:
It was designed to accommodate Mig-29Ks. Larger fighters would be cramped for space.
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True - but wasn't there at one time a report that the reason for the delay in commissioning - there were mods done to the elevators to accommodate the rafale ...

In any case - do we have actual dimension ?
 
Faced with cash crunch, Indian Navy to house new aircraft carrier at private shipyard

Facing a shortage of modernisation funds to create new bases and projects, the Indian Navy is now going to deploy its frontline futuristic aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at a private shipyard in Chennai as its planned base in Vishakhapatnam is not yet ready.

"The case for leasing of the 260 m berth at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli for a period of eight years (2022-2030) for interim berthing of IAC 1 on the East Coast has been taken up with Defence Ministry. The total financial implications for leasing the berth along with 'ready to use' infrastructure are Rs 30.48 crores per year in addition to Rs 48 crores as refundable deposit. The case is being progressed for early approval of the Defence Ministry," the Navy Vice Chief told the standing committee on defence.

The warship had to be deployed it the new submarine and warship base called INS Varsha at Vishakhapatnam but the process has been slow and not moving at the desired pace due to which the navy will have to lease a private shipyard's berth.

India has a plan of possessing at least two aircraft carriers at any point of time, looking after the eastern and western seaboards to monitor the vast exclusive economic zone and maritime boundaries. The Standing Committee also discussed the declining share of the Indian navy in the defence budget and observed that navy's fighting capabilities depend not only on high-value platforms like aircraft carriers, submarines, destroyers and frigates but also on the allocation of the capital budget for the navy (percentage) wise has the sharpest decline.

"We recommend the Ministry not to make any cut while allocating budget for Capital Head for any of the services in the demands to be made in the coming years," the committee said in its report.
 
Ashwin said:
Faced with cash crunch, Indian Navy to house new aircraft carrier at private shipyard

Facing a shortage of modernisation funds to create new bases and projects, the Indian Navy is now going to deploy its frontline futuristic aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at a private shipyard in Chennai as its planned base in Vishakhapatnam is not yet ready.

"The case for leasing of the 260 m berth at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli for a period of eight years (2022-2030) for interim berthing of IAC 1 on the East Coast has been taken up with Defence Ministry. The total financial implications for leasing the berth along with 'ready to use' infrastructure are Rs 30.48 crores per year in addition to Rs 48 crores as refundable deposit. The case is being progressed for early approval of the Defence Ministry," the Navy Vice Chief told the standing committee on defence.

The warship had to be deployed it the new submarine and warship base called INS Varsha at Vishakhapatnam but the process has been slow and not moving at the desired pace due to which the navy will have to lease a private shipyard's berth.

India has a plan of possessing at least two aircraft carriers at any point of time, looking after the eastern and western seaboards to monitor the vast exclusive economic zone and maritime boundaries. The Standing Committee also discussed the declining share of the Indian navy in the defence budget and observed that navy's fighting capabilities depend not only on high-value platforms like aircraft carriers, submarines, destroyers and frigates but also on the allocation of the capital budget for the navy (percentage) wise has the sharpest decline.

"We recommend the Ministry not to make any cut while allocating budget for Capital Head for any of the services in the demands to be made in the coming years," the committee said in its report.
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Why not base it in Karwar for the time being instead. It has the capability to hold multiple aircraft carriers at once.
 
Vicky said:
And who will look after the eastern side. Especially if there is threat in Malacca straights and take +2 days to reach the zone?
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Well there's non now. It would be better if we for the interim station a detachment of Brahmos armed Su30MKIs at A&N. That would still provide a quicker reaction time.

Meanwhile complete the work at Naval base.
 
Is there an update on the IAC-1 Vikrant Carrier? I've heard so many conflicting reports on when it is supposed to start sea trials, I'm guessing with this pandemic the induction date will be further postponed. Are we still expecting 2020 trials with 2021 induction, or maybe 2021 trials with 2022 induction?
 
Ginvincible said:
Is there an update on the IAC-1 Vikrant Carrier? I've heard so many conflicting reports on when it is supposed to start sea trials, I'm guessing with this pandemic the induction date will be further postponed. Are we still expecting 2020 trials with 2021 induction, or maybe 2021 trials with 2022 induction?
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Basin trials might have begun already. Work on the island is still ongoing :
IAC-1(2).jpg

IAC-1.jpg
 
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Covid-19 delays indigenous aircraft carrier by six months more, possibly to 2023

Covid-19 delays indigenous aircraft carrier by six months more, possibly to 2023

INS Vikrant (pictured above at its launch) will be delayed by another six months due to Covid-19 travel restrictions
By Ajai Shukla
Business Standard, 21st May 20
The long wait for India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, is set to be even longer. Senior naval sources say the Covid-19 pandemic has set back the start of trials by at least six months – perhaps more if the lockdown and travel restrictions continue.
The first phase of the warship’s trials – termed basin trials – was initially scheduled to begin on March 12 at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), where INS Vikrant has been constructed. However, construction delays caused that to be moved back to April. Then, with the Covid-19 pandemic locking down facilities and travel, the navy says trials are unlikely to begin before September/October.
An example of the delay is the difficulty faced by marine engine specialists from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in travelling to Kochi for the trials. These HAL representatives are essential for the trials because the General Electric (GE) gas turbines that power INS Vikrant have been built and supplied by HAL’s collaborative venture with GE in Bengaluru. However, the HAL representatives are reluctant to travel to Kochi, where they would face 14 days of quarantine on arrival in Kerala and another 14 days quarantine on return to Bengaluru.
Similarly, there are about 40-50 vendor representatives, including 10 from abroad, who cannot come to Kochi for basin trials without facing the deterring prospect of mandatory quarantine.
“The navy has even offered to organise the vendors’ quarantine and to pay the expenses that are incurred. Given how much this delay in trials is escalating the cost of INS Vikrant, we would pay less for the quarantine and related expenditure. But the Kerala government is not agreeing to this,” says a navy admiral on condition of anonymity.
“We were optimistic about finding a solution because Kochi and Ernakulam are green zones. But when we request to the Kerala government, they say: ‘Yes, we are in a green zone but we don’t want to convert it back to a red zone’,” he said.
In his Navy Day press meeting last December, the navy chief, Admiral Karambir Singh, had said the navy would have a fully operational INS Vikrant before the end of 2022. The Covid-19 pandemic has already pushed that back to 2023 and further delays are possible.
Karambir Singh stated it was operationally essential for the navy to operate three aircraft carriers. It now appears that, for about three more years, it will have to make do with its lone carrier – the Russia-built INS Vikramaditya.
 
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Rakshit said:
Covid-19 delays indigenous aircraft carrier by six months more, possibly to 2023

Covid-19 delays indigenous aircraft carrier by six months more, possibly to 2023

INS Vikrant (pictured above at its launch) will be delayed by another six months due to Covid-19 travel restrictions
By Ajai Shukla
Business Standard, 21st May 20
The long wait for India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, is set to be even longer. Senior naval sources say the Covid-19 pandemic has set back the start of trials by at least six months – perhaps more if the lockdown and travel restrictions continue.
The first phase of the warship’s trials – termed basin trials – was initially scheduled to begin on March 12 at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), where INS Vikrant has been constructed. However, construction delays caused that to be moved back to April. Then, with the Covid-19 pandemic locking down facilities and travel, the navy says trials are unlikely to begin before September/October.
An example of the delay is the difficulty faced by marine engine specialists from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in travelling to Kochi for the trials. These HAL representatives are essential for the trials because the General Electric (GE) gas turbines that power INS Vikrant have been built and supplied by HAL’s collaborative venture with GE in Bengaluru. However, the HAL representatives are reluctant to travel to Kochi, where they would face 14 days of quarantine on arrival in Kerala and another 14 days quarantine on return to Bengaluru.
Similarly, there are about 40-50 vendor representatives, including 10 from abroad, who cannot come to Kochi for basin trials without facing the deterring prospect of mandatory quarantine.
“The navy has even offered to organise the vendors’ quarantine and to pay the expenses that are incurred. Given how much this delay in trials is escalating the cost of INS Vikrant, we would pay less for the quarantine and related expenditure. But the Kerala government is not agreeing to this,” says a navy admiral on condition of anonymity.
“We were optimistic about finding a solution because Kochi and Ernakulam are green zones. But when we request to the Kerala government, they say: ‘Yes, we are in a green zone but we don’t want to convert it back to a red zone’,” he said.
In his Navy Day press meeting last December, the navy chief, Admiral Karambir Singh, had said the navy would have a fully operational INS Vikrant before the end of 2022. The Covid-19 pandemic has already pushed that back to 2023 and further delays are possible.
Karambir Singh stated it was operationally essential for the navy to operate three aircraft carriers. It now appears that, for about three more years, it will have to make do with its lone carrier – the Russia-built INS Vikramaditya.
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Yeah yeah they required some sort of excuse and got it. A/C is taking what 15 years what a joke
 
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Dear Gurus and Senior members. Good morning, Any news you could share on the elevator modification plans on the Vikrant? @ Aashish-Parikrama had mentioned quote " Hearing a strong chatter that originally IAC1 lift design after numerous alterations over last 7 years has finally settled with planned 10x14m. But the housing of the entire Lift segment still has enough space to expand the dimensions by at least 1m in each of the 4 sides reaching a possible 12x16m dimension" unquote.
Many thanks
 
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