News Analysis India

Tag: sea trials

  • Indigenous Aircraft Carrier’s fourth phase sea trials successfully completed

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Moving ahead towards the commissioning of the ambitious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), the fourth phase of Sea Trials for IAC was successfully completed on Sunday.

    The Indian Navy in its statement said, “During the sea Trials integrated trials of the majority of equipment and systems onboard including some of the Aviation Facilities Complex equipment were undertaken.”

    The ship’s delivery is being targeted at the end of July 22, followed by commissioning of the ship in August 2022.  

    The ship has been designed indigenously and is being constructed by the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard Limited with more than 76% indigenous content, the navy added.

    “This has led to growth in indigenous design and construction capabilities, besides development of a large number of ancillary industries, with employment opportunities for over 2000 CSL personnel and about 12000 employees in ancillary industries.” The Navy said.

    Maiden Sea Trials of IAC were successfully completed in August 2021. This was followed by second and third phases of Sea Trials on Oct 21 and Jan 22 respectively.  During these three phases of Sea Trials, endurance testing of propulsion machinery, electrical and electronic suites, deck machinery, life saving appliances, ship’s Navigation and Communication systems was undertaken.

    As reported earlier, INS Vikrant will be weighing around 40,000 tonnes and its fighters will operate on Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) mechanism similar to the present carrier INS Vikramaditya with an angular ski-jump. Helicopters will also be part of its aviation complement.

    Indian Navy plans to operate three carrier battle groups (CBG) with one each on the Eastern and Western Sea boards and third one under maintenance (refit/repair).

  • Sea-trials of ambitious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier delayed

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Indian initiative to sail out Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-I) is delayed further. While the Basin trials completed on 30th November last year the sea trials were initially planned in the first half of this year. The initial deadline to deliver IAC-1, to be Commissioned as INS Vikrant, the carrier was in 2018. 

    Confirming the status a source said, “Sea trials were expected to be completed early this year but Covid restrictions led to delay in various activities which could have been completed during this period.”

    Covid restrictions not only stopped the travel of Indian personnel associated with the project but also in multiple cases the personnel of the Original Equipment Manufacturers from other countries were either quarantined or not able to travel. In several tests the presence of OEM representatives is a must, added the sources.

    Talking about the tentative time, “Sea trials are expected post monsoon and the preparations for it are almost complete.” The source added. The monsoons are generally expected to last till September.

    Sea trials is generally the last phase of trials which takes place in the open sea where all the stakeholders test the efficacy of the overall ship. Basin trials are conducted for proving of the propulsion, transmission and shafting systems.

    India is one of the few countries which has capability to manufacture own aircraft carrier.  But, Chinese are frantically increasing maritime power with theri first home built aircraft carrier commissioned in 2019 and they plan to have three carriers by 2025.

    Cochin Shipyard is manufacturing INS Vikrant which is planned to be 260 meters long with displacement of 37,500-tonnes. The aircraft carrier will be able to accommodate up to 30 fighters and helicopters and will be compatible with Mig-29K and LCA Navy fighter jets and Ka-31 helicopters.

    Aircraft Carriers are the floating air bases which extend the combat capability of the owning country. India at present has INS Vikramaditya as the only aircraft carrier. Indian Navy has been vehemently pushing for three aircraft carriers so that India  has at least one aircraft carrier operational for both east and west seaboards while the third aircraft carrier goes for maintenance and repair.