The story so far: On March 5, both aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, showcased “twin carrier operations” with MiG-29K fighter jets taking off simultaneously from both and landing cross deck as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh looked on from onboard one of them. This demonstrated an ability that only a handful of nations can boast of. Further one of the carriers, INS Vikrant is indigenously designed and constructed. Commissioned in September 2022, INS Vikrant has been fully operationalised and integrated into the operational cycle in record time. As the two carriers sailed, they were joined by a flotilla of frontline warships of the Indian Navy, a combined tonnage of around 1,40,000 as well as aircraft.
What does INS Vikrant signify?
A carrier is a floating city. The design work on the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)-I, later christened Vikrant, began in 1999; however 2005-2006 were probably the most crucial years for the carrier and for India’s war shipbuilding. The crucial decision was on the warship grade steel, which till then was procured from Russia. After much brainstorming, it was decided that it would be developed and produced in India, a collaborative effort between the Steel Authority of India, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy. The decision on the development of DMR-249 steel was a commercial decision, Madhu S. Nair, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) said speaking to The Hindu shortly after the commissioning of Vikrant. DMR-249 steel is now being used for the construction of all warships in the country.
