Video of India's new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant put into operation on 2 September. The ship is armed with four Italian 76-mm artillery systems from the Italian Leonardo group, two Israeli-made Barak-1 and Barak-8 missile systems, and Russian AK-630 anti-aircraft artillery systems. The air wing of 26 aircraft included the MiG-29K fighter, the Russian Ka-31 helicopter and the American MH-60R helicopter. In the future, it is possible to replace the aircraft with the French Rafale M or the American F-18 Super Hornet. The cost of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is US$2.9 billion. The cruising range of the aircraft carrier is 7,500 nautical miles. Crew - 1560 people.
INS Vikrant (IAC1) & INS Vikramaditya - News & Discussions
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Nehru’s Navy: India’s Tryst with Aircraft Carriers
The commissioning of the homegrown INS Vikrant in September has revived debates within India’s strategic community and the decision-making elite, on the desirability and viability of aircraft carriers for the Indian Navy. It remains unclear how these debates are settled among the political, bureaucratic, and military classes, and how decisions are made around the Navy's force structures, particularly on the issue of aircraft carriers. This paper offers a historical account of how India acquired its first aircraft carrier in the 1960s, the various forces that have either supported or resisted the idea of a carrier-centric navy, and the consequences for the Navy. It argues that both, the Indian Navy’s organisational obsessions, and Jawaharlal Nehru’s pride, were responsible for India’s tryst with aircraft carriers.
About the repeat order, my take is that before navy wanted to take their time & push for bigger catobar version IAC2, but maybe now situation is according to PLnavy threat projection counter so we want a repeat order for faster delivery+2 new carriers.
One more IAC 1 INS VIKRANT CLASS Carrier coming soon....
Finally Good Sense prevailed instead of running after Paper Boat Indian Navy decided to go with the Real one in hand...
Its sad that navy the is losing the fight for enough budget to reach its desired capability. Nothing to celebrate here. A few years wouldn't have changed anything.
We need far more than 1 carrier of whatever type that can be inducted the fastest. There's no more time.
If we're talking about a CATOBAR version of Vikrant, by all means. It'd be pretty similar to the Charles de Gaulle in terms of aviation footprint, and a huge upgrade over IAC-1. The only question would be whether the conventional gas turbines can produce enough electricity fast enough to take full advantage of EMALS...I have no doubt there will be limitations placed on the EM system compared to a nuclear-powered setup. So far only the Fujian is attempting to deploy EMALS on a gas-powered ship.
CATOBAR Vikrant 'IAC 1.5' by Harshal Pal
If its going to be another STOBAR ship...Meh, hard to get excited what with all the same limitations all over again. But I guess two half-a$$ed ships are still better than one. I just hope they redesign the aviation complex & supporting structures around whichever jet wins MRCBF, and with a significant margin built in for potentially larger aircraft in future.
They lost the funding war for the SSN program - that is a significant chunk of money that will now have to come from Navy's own capex, which they did not previously plan for. A certain degree of right-sizing of the other big-ticket programs was very much to be expected. I called it.
IAC-2 is effectively shelved indefinitely now.
CATOBAR Vikrant 'IAC 1.5' by Harshal Pal
If its going to be another STOBAR ship...Meh, hard to get excited what with all the same limitations all over again. But I guess two half-a$$ed ships are still better than one. I just hope they redesign the aviation complex & supporting structures around whichever jet wins MRCBF, and with a significant margin built in for potentially larger aircraft in future.
They lost the funding war for the SSN program - that is a significant chunk of money that will now have to come from Navy's own capex, which they did not previously plan for. A certain degree of right-sizing of the other big-ticket programs was very much to be expected. I called it.
IAC-2 is effectively shelved indefinitely now.
Vikrant at-sea replenishment by INS Deepak
Photos from visit of French ambassador:
Photos from visit of French ambassador:
Needs IEPS. Changing things on the base model will delay its induction, which doesn't make sense.
The aircraft it flies are more important. Buying the SH can give us direct access to the USN surveillance network. That's better than anything our carrier can operate. And a British drone AEW can be an option too.
Yeah but we don't build anything at lightning speed anyway.
Even in DDGs & FFGs, follow-on models often incorporate changes to equipment/structure especially if deficiencies are found. Like the redesigned bridge of P-15B or MAN diesels replacing Pielstick on P-17A.
Provided we decided on MT30 for future combatants (and signed on to a JV with GE to develop an IEP for it), may as well as also replace the LM2500s.
Any carrier is supposed to be designed around the aircraft its meant to fly. On Vikrant we're being forced to do the opposite due to unforeseen issues with the Fulcrum platform.
It's not a bad idea to design the Vikrant-II's aviation complex equipment (elevators, hangar deck, trapping kit) around the jet that wins MRCBF (hopefully F/A-18).
Delaying MRCBF will delay Vikrant-II's design as well.
The point of a repeat order is the IN is happy with the Vikrant's base design. Structural changes are always possible, but changing the basic design is impossible without a lot of time waste involved. So it's unlikely to see an EMALS upgrade. I'd actually say it's better to go after IAC-2 instead. IEP is possible though.
The Americans can make the same offer for the engine.
GE, BHEL agree to develop electric propulsion system for Indian Navy
GE Power Conversion and BHEL have signed a MoU to develop integrated full electric propulsion system for Indian Navy.
www.navaltoday.com
The IN needs a clear cut long term plan to bring in nuke propulsion on larger carriers.
MRCBF will be chosen long before Vikrant II comes into play. We could even be operating the jet by the time the construction order goes through. The IN is aiming for a 2025+ date for a new carrier. Until then, funds are tied up elsewhere. Especially with submarines, fighters, drones and minesweepers being higher on the priority list.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said, “We are still working on what size IAC II should be and the capabilities that are desired. But, for now, we have put a hold on it because we have just commissioned INS Vikrant and we are quite happy with the way the ship performed in the trials.”
“A lot of expertise has been gained in building IAC I. We are seriously looking at a repeat order for IAC I rather than building IAC II. This would capitalize on the expertise available in the country and we could plough back into the economy,” he added.
"Life cycle cost is the estimated amount spent till the ship is in service, it includes the cost of construction and maintenance for years ahead. This was the Navy's proposal, but due to budget constraints it hasn't gone through. A repeat order of Vikrant is plan B to make sure there are three aircraft carriers. Two always functioning and one in repair," said a Navy official privy to the developments.
As a middle path, the Navy is now pushing for a repeat order of IAC 1 as it would cost less and can be made in 7-8 years from the time of the order being placed.
www.indiatoday.in
“A lot of expertise has been gained in building IAC I. We are seriously looking at a repeat order for IAC I rather than building IAC II. This would capitalize on the expertise available in the country and we could plough back into the economy,” he added.
"Life cycle cost is the estimated amount spent till the ship is in service, it includes the cost of construction and maintenance for years ahead. This was the Navy's proposal, but due to budget constraints it hasn't gone through. A repeat order of Vikrant is plan B to make sure there are three aircraft carriers. Two always functioning and one in repair," said a Navy official privy to the developments.
As a middle path, the Navy is now pushing for a repeat order of IAC 1 as it would cost less and can be made in 7-8 years from the time of the order being placed.
Superior aircraft carrier put on hold, Indian Navy looks at repeat order of INS Vikrant
The Indian Navy’s plan to have a bigger indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC II) has been put on hold and the option of a repeat order of the recently commissioned IAC I (INS Vikrant) is being contemplated.
I am personally biased against more Aircraft Carriers being ordered, before we have placed an order for SSN project, Minesweepeing Capacity and cleared the 13,000 crore funding for TEDBF.
Once these 3 things are actually funded for, then start looking for a 3rd aircraft carrier.
Once these 3 things are actually funded for, then start looking for a 3rd aircraft carrier.