Post by FlyNavy on Mar 4, 2009 5:44:38 GMT 12
India Lays Keel of Its First Homemade Aircraft Carrier Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 3/3/2009 9:07 AM CST
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India laid the keel of its first aircraft carrier on February 28, an event
described by Defence Minister A.K. Antony as an "historic moment for India",
according to Indian press reports. "It is a crucial milestone and a moment
to cherish in the country's maritime history," he said. The ship will be
named INS Vikrant, which, in Sanskrit, means "courageous" and "victorious",
it was announced yesterday.
The Cochin Shipyard in Kerala began steel cutting for the ship in April
2005, after the government sanctioned the design in January 2003. Almost
half of the 874 steel blocks have already been fabricated. It is the largest
military vessel ever constructed by an Indian shipyard
The 260-metre long, 60-metre wide, 37,500 tonne ship will be propelled by
two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines that will enable it to attain a
speed of over 28 knots. It will be able to carry 30 combat aircraft,
comprising Russian MiG-29K fighters, indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft,
and Kamov Ka-31 helicopters.
The aircraft carrier should be afloat by October 2010, and delivered to the
Navy by the end of 2014.
Bill Sweetman adds: The model seen above, shown at Aero-India last month,
shows that Vikrant will be a STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery)
carrier with no catapults and a ski-jump for fighter takeoffs. Catapults are
a problem for a gas-turbine ship because they require a separate steam
generator.
The design also has unusual weather-protected side elevators, a mix of
mechanically and electronically scanned radars, and defensive armament
limited to close-in gun systems.
www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a71a9d613-b048-4da1-807b-2926f71d397c
sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/10/20c63fb5-e830-4302-9aaf-b1aabef6cea9.Large.jpg
India laid the keel of its first aircraft carrier on February 28, an event
described by Defence Minister A.K. Antony as an "historic moment for India",
according to Indian press reports. "It is a crucial milestone and a moment
to cherish in the country's maritime history," he said. The ship will be
named INS Vikrant, which, in Sanskrit, means "courageous" and "victorious",
it was announced yesterday.
The Cochin Shipyard in Kerala began steel cutting for the ship in April
2005, after the government sanctioned the design in January 2003. Almost
half of the 874 steel blocks have already been fabricated. It is the largest
military vessel ever constructed by an Indian shipyard
The 260-metre long, 60-metre wide, 37,500 tonne ship will be propelled by
two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines that will enable it to attain a
speed of over 28 knots. It will be able to carry 30 combat aircraft,
comprising Russian MiG-29K fighters, indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft,
and Kamov Ka-31 helicopters.
The aircraft carrier should be afloat by October 2010, and delivered to the
Navy by the end of 2014.
Bill Sweetman adds: The model seen above, shown at Aero-India last month,
shows that Vikrant will be a STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery)
carrier with no catapults and a ski-jump for fighter takeoffs. Catapults are
a problem for a gas-turbine ship because they require a separate steam
generator.
The design also has unusual weather-protected side elevators, a mix of
mechanically and electronically scanned radars, and defensive armament
limited to close-in gun systems.