7 facts about INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier
krishna murthy
The timing happens to be crucial as the Navy has been pitching for three aircraft carriers to deal with China's growing influence over the Indian Ocean.
Here are seven things to know about INS Vikrant
At present, India has only one aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is a Russian-origin platform.
With the construction of ‘Vikrant’, India has joined an elite group of nations having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.
The INS Vikrant has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,700 people, including specialised cabins for women officers.
Vikrant has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.
The warship is 262 meters long, 62 meters wide, and has a height of 59 meters. Its construction began in 2009.
The Navy said the ship is powered by four gas turbines totaling 88 MW power.
The warship will play the role of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.