INSVikrant[21] is anaircraft carrier in service with theIndian Navy. The carrier is India's fourth carrier and the first to be built domestically. It was constructed by theCochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). The nameVikrant is a tribute to India's first aircraft carrierINSVikrant (1961).Vikrant means "courageous" inSanskrit.[22] The motto of the ship, "जयेम सम् युधिस्पृधः" (Sanskrit), means "I defeat those who dare to challenge me" (English). It is currently one of two active aircraft carriers in theIndian Navy, the other being the flagshipINSVikramaditya.
Work on the ship's design began in 1999. Thekeel was laid in 2009. The carrier was floated out ofdry dock in December 2011[23] andlaunched in August 2013.[24] Basin trials were completed in December 2020,[25] and sea trials started in August 2021.[26] Itscommissioning ceremony was held on 2 September 2022.[27] Aircraft flight trials have been completed in 2023.[26][28] The total cost of the project is approximately₹23,000 crore (equivalent to₹260 billion or US$3.1 billion in 2023) at the time of first sea trials.[1][2]
It is 262 metres (860 ft) in length, with a top speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) and endurance of 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km; 8,600 mi). The ship has 2,300 compartments crewed by 1,700 sailors. It has a hospital complex, cabins for female officers, eight kilometres (5.0 mi) of corridors, and fourGeneral Electric LM2500 gas turbines.[29]
Background
In 1989, a plan was announced for constructing two aircraft carriers. It was set to decommission in 1997.[30] In 1999,Defence MinisterGeorge Fernandes authorised the development and construction of an aircraft carrier, INSVikrant, under the Project 71 Air Defence Ship (ADS).[30] By that time, given the ageingSea Harrier fleet, the letter of intent called for a carrier that would carry more modern jet fighters. In 2001,Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) released a graphic illustration showing a 32,000-tonne (35,000-short-ton)STOBAR (Short Take-Off, Barrier-Arrested Recovery) design with a pronouncedski jump.[citation needed]
The aircraft carrier project received formal government approval in January 2003. By then, design updates called for a 37,500-tonne (41,300-short-ton) carrier to operate theMikoyan MiG-29K. India opted for a three-carrier fleet consisting of onecarrier battle group stationed on each seaboard, and a third carrier held in reserve, in order to continuously protect both its flanks, to protect economic interests and mercantile traffic, and to provide humanitarian platforms in times of disasters, since a carrier can provide a self-generating supply of fresh water, medical assistance or engineering expertise to populations in need for assistance.[31]
In August 2006,Chief of the Naval StaffAdmiralArun Prakash stated that the designation for the vessel had been changed from Air Defence Ship (ADS) to Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC). The euphemistic ADS had been adopted in planning stages to ward off concerns about a naval build-up.[citation needed] Final revisions to the design increased thedisplacement of the carrier from 37,500 tons to over 45,000 tons. The length of the ship increased from 252 metres (827 ft) to 262 metres (860 ft).[32]
Design
A schematic diagram of INSVikrant
INSVikrant is 262 metres (860 ft) long and 62 metres (203 ft) wide, and displaces about 45,000 tonnes (50,000short tons).[33] It features aSTOBAR configuration.[34] It can carry an air group of up to thirty-six aircraft,[35] including 26 fixed-wing combat aircraft,[36] and a mix ofDhruv MK-III,Sikorsky MH-60R andKamov Ka-31 helicopters. The Ka-31 will fulfil theairborne early warning (AEW) role, MH-60R will provideanti-surface andanti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities,[37] and Dhruv will be used mainly for search and rescue operations.[38]
Vikrant is powered by fourGeneral Electric LM2500+ gas turbines on two shafts, generating over 80 megawatts (110,000 hp) of power. The gearboxes for the carriers were designed and supplied byElecon Engineering.[23][39][40]
The ship's combat management system (CMS) was developed byTata Advanced Systems.[13] It is the first CMS developed by a private company for the Indian Navy and was handed over to the Navy on 28 March 2019.[41][42]
Flight deck: Theflight deck measures an area of 12,450 square metres (134,000 sq ft). 12 fighter jets and 6 helicopters can be parked on the flight deck to respond immediately to an emergency situation. There is one shorter runway, and one longer runway accompanied by a 14°ski-jump for take-off. The flight deck is equipped with 2 restraining gears for take-off and 3arresting gears (20 tonne steel cables) for landing. The deck features non-skid paint and Saturn Lighting System for night-time operations.
Aircraft hangar: Thehangar is situated 5 decks below the flight deck and has a 20 aircraft-capacity. It is equipped with 2 hydraulic 360° rotatable turntables, which are circular revolving platforms to turn an aircraft in any direction. The carrier has 2 giant elevators of 30 tonnes (30,000 kg) payload capacity. This is opposed to theINSVikramaditya which has only one elevator in the centre of the flight deck. The centre placement implies that the flight operations are needed to be stopped during elevator operations and vice versa. Vikrant's elevator configuration negates this limitation.
Damage Control HQ(DCHQ): The DCHQ is tasked with preventing fire and floods on the vessel. There are over 3,000 fire sensors and 700 flood sensors on the ship. DCHQ is staffed around-the-clock to monitor and mitigating fire and flooding.
Operations (Ops) Room: The Ops Room is responsible for all the decisions for all the operations of not only the ship but also of theCarrier Battle Group accompanying it. The decisions on which gun or aircraft is to be deployed, the formation of the CBG, etc. is planned and executed from the Ops Room. It includes the Combat Management System, weapons controls and sensors, electronic charts, radar controls among other equipments. The Maritime Domain Awareness System also gives an insight on the position of all ships present in the Indian Ocean Region.
Ship Control Centre (SCC): This is thecommand and control centre of the aircraft carrier. Every system on board the ship is controlled and operated from the SCC.
The Bridge of the ship is commanded by theCaptain of the ship. Beside the Bridge, the Flight Control Position (FLYCO) is located. This is similar to anair traffic control tower of anairfield. It is at a height of 10 metres above the flight deck, providing all-round clear visibility of flight-deck, technical positions and as the helicopter landing spots. FLYCO is equipped with Automatic Weather Observations System (AWOS), a set of sensors which continually monitors various parameters crucial for flying such as temperature, pressure, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction.
Medical facilities: The ship houses a 16-bed hospital operated by five medical officers and 25 assistants. There are several wards inside the facility including a medical/general ward, an isolation ward, a female ward, and a casualty andICU. It is capable to handle any kind of emergency on board the ship. ACT scan facility is also present.
Earlier, the Indian Navy considered fielding theMiG-29K,[48] and theLCA Navy on Vikrant.[49] At the same time in 2009, the then Navy Chief AdmiralNirmal Kumar Verma hinted that the Navy was carrying out a concept study for a more capable naval fighter,[49]
In 2016 the Navy announced that the Tejas was overweight for carrier operations, and other alternatives would be looked at.[50][51]
The maiden landing of aMiG-29K on board INSVikrant (R11)
During theAero India 2021, the concept of aHAL TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter) was unveiled.[52] The TEDBF is to be introduced in service by 2038.Naval Tejas being a technology demonstrator development of niche technology for deck based fighter operations, paving the way forTEDBF. Vikrant's Carrier Air Group's fighter jet component is currently fulfilled by 12 MiG-29Ks.[53] The Navy could also transfer a squadron ofMiG-29K toINSDega to form the Carrier Air Group of the aircraft carrier until the arrival ofRafale.[54]
For the optimum utilisation of Rafale from the carrier, some changes in the elevators would be necessary in the carrier. Further, the wing pylons would have to be removed from the jets during lift operations, that is, transferring the jets from hangar to flight deck and vice versa.[59]
On April 28, 2025, the Indian Navy signed a deal of 26 Rafale M fighters with France, for which deliveries are to start from 2030.[59]
Vikrant is the first aircraft carrier to be designed by the Warship Design Bureau (formerly Directorate of Naval Design) of the Indian Navy and the first warship to be built by Cochin Shipyard. Its construction involved participation of a large number of private and public firms.
The main switch board, steering gear and water tight hatches have been manufactured byLarsen & Toubro inMumbai andTalegaon; high-capacityair conditioning andrefrigeration systems have been manufactured inKirloskar Group's plants inPune; most pumps have been supplied by Best and Crompton;Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) supplied the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), which is being installed byAvio, anItalian company; the gear box was supplied byElecon Engineering; and the electrical cables are being supplied by Nicco Industries.[63]Fincantieri provided consultancy for the propulsion package while Russia's Nevskoye Design Bureau designed the aviation complex.[64]
Thekeel forVikrant was laid by Defence MinisterA.K. Antony at the Cochin Shipyard on 28 February 2009.[65][66] The ship uses modular construction, with 874 blocks joined for thehull. By the time the keel was laid, 423 blocks weighing over 8,000 tons had been completed.[67] In August 2011, theDefence Ministry reported to theLok Sabha that 75% of the construction work for the hull of the lead carrier had been completed and the carrier would be first launched in December 2011, following which further works would be completed until commissioning.[68][69] On 29 December 2011, the completed hull of the carrier was first floated out of its dry dock at CSL, with its displacement at over 14,000 tonnes (14,000 long tons; 15,000 short tons).[39] Interior works and fittings on the hull would be carried out until the second half of 2012, when it would again be dry-docked for integration with its propulsion and power generation systems.[10][23] By late 2012, work commenced for the next stage of construction, which included the installation of the integrated propulsion system, thesuperstructure, the upper decks, the cabling, sensors andweapons.[70]Shortly before launch on 21st March 2013, theIndian Coast Guard vesselICGSAbheek, which was in advanced stages of fitting out in the same drydock but ahead ofVikrant was slowly winched over the ship on specially designed cradles before being launched by itself into the water by dock technicians.[71]
Launch
INSVikrant during its launch in August 2013
In July 2013, Defence Minister Antony announced thatVikrant would be launched on 12 August at the Cochin Shipyard. The ship was launched by his wife, Elizabeth Antony, on 12 August 2013.[72]
According to AdmiralRobin K. Dhowan, about 83% of the fabrication work and 75% of the construction work had been completed at the time of launching. He said that 90% of the body work of the aircraft carrier had been designed and made in India, about 50% of the propulsion system, and about 30% of its weaponry. He also said that the ship would be equipped with a long range missile system with multi-function radar and aclose-in weapon system (CIWS).[73] After the launch,Vikrant would be re-docked for the second phase of construction, in which the ship would be fitted with various weapons and sensors, and the propulsion system, flight deck and the aircraft complex would be integrated.[63]
Undocking and fitting-out
INSVikrant during its undocking in June 2015
Vikrant was undocked on 10 June 2015 after the completion of structural work. Cabling, piping, heat and ventilation works were scheduled to be completed by 2017 with sea trials to begin thereafter.[74] By October 2015, the construction of the hull was close to 98 percent complete, with flight deck construction underway.[75] The installation of machinery, piping and the propeller shafts was in progress by January 2016; it was reported, however, that there were delays in the delivery of equipment from Russia for the carrier's aviation complex.[76] By May 2017, the carrier's fitting-out was 62% complete, with trials of the auxiliary systems scheduled by late 2017.[11]
In February 2020, all major structural and outfitting work was declared complete.[77]
Harbour and sea trials
Basin trials of the aircraft carrier
On 31 October 2019, Cochin Shipyard received a₹30 billion (equivalent to₹37 billion or US$440 million in 2023) contract for the Phase-III of the project.[78] This contract included funds for the harbour trials, sea trials and support for the ship during its weapons and aviation trials after its delivery.[79] In December 2019, it was reported the engines had been switched on.[80] By September 2020,Vikrant had completed harbour trials while the basin trials started from October 2020 to check propulsion, electric transmission and shafting systems.[81] On 30 November 2020, the basin trials were completed, paving the way for sea trials, the final phase of the IAC-I project.[82][83] As of 4 December 2020, the aircraft carrier was to be inducted in 2022–23.[84]
In April 2021, it was reported that work had begun to integrateBarak 8 (or LR-SAM) on boardVikrant.[85][86][87] On 15 June 2021,Vikrant was moved to the Ernakulam Wharf inKochi,Kerala.[88] On 4 August 2021, sea trials finally began.[89] The first phase of the sea trials was successfully completed on 8 August 2021.[90] The second phase of the trials was conducted on 24 October 2021,[91] followed by the third phase from 9–17 January 2022,[92][93][94] both of which were completed successfully.[95] On 10 July, the fourth and final phase of the sea trials was successfully completed. This phase involved integrated trials of most of the equipment and systems aboardVikrant, including portions of the Aviation Facilities Complex.[96] On 26 May 2023 Indian builtMikoyan MiG-29K successfully landed on its deck during night sea trials lauding praise from defense ministry forNavy's dependence onAtmanirbhar Bharat.[97]
INSVikrant was delivered to the Indian Navy on 28 July 2022.[4]Prime MinisterNarendra Modi commissioned INSVikrant on 2 September 2022 in a grand ceremony atCochin Shipyard.[27][98] Flight trials of its aircraft complement are expected to be completed by mid-2023, after which the ship will be fully operational.[26]
In March 2020, it was revealed that after its commissioning, the Navy wants to lease a 260 m berth atLarsen & Toubro's shipyard inKattupalli nearChennai between 2022 and 2030 to deploy INSVikrant. This was an interim solution until the planned naval baseINS Varsha atRambilli nearVishakhapatnam would by ready.[101]
Again, it was reported in 2021 that INSVikrant's home base will be changed from Karwar toVisakhapatnam after the development of certain infrastructures in the Eastern Seaboard.[54] As of December 2024, an aircraft carrier berth is under construction in the naval outer area of Visakhapatnam Naval Base. Until the construction ends for the permanent base, the carrier will periodically operate in the Eastern Seaboard.[60]
Project delays
The construction plan originally called for the carrier to be launched in 2010,[102] sea trials to commence in 2013, and to be commissioned in 2016.[103][104] However, the project experienced some delays such as delay in the delivery of main gearboxes, aviation equipments etc., and cost overrun.[105] The supplier of gearboxes, Elecon, attributed it to technical complexities due to the length of the propulsion shafts.[106]
Part of the blame for the delay in delivery ofVikrant was attributed to the delay in the supply of aviation equipment from Russia. In response to a question in theRajya Sabha,Sripad Naik, theMinister of State for Defence, stated: "Ship's targeted delivery was affected due to delay in supply of aviation equipment from Russia".[107] Later due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, sea trials of the carrier were further postponed to late 2020,[108] but eventually began in August 2021. The carrier was commissioned on 2 September 2022.[109][110][111]
LCA Tejas maiden landing on board INSVikrant (R11)
Service history
2023
In June 2023, the Indian Navy showcased the dual carrier operations including INSVikrant andINS Vikramaditya. The exercise included 35 aircraft includingMiG-29K,MH 60R,Kamov Ka 31,Sea King,Chetak andHAL Dhruv. This helped in the integration of the aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy.[112]
In November 2023, INSVikrant achieved fully operational status. Following this, the Indian Navy, had two fullCarrier Battle Groups (CBG).[113][114]
2024
In mid February 2024, INSVikrant along with INSVikramaditya participated inMilan 2024 multinational naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy along with other ships, submarines and aircraft of friendly foreign nations. The concluding ceremony of the sea phase of the exercise was hosted on board INS Vikrant.[115]
In late February and early March 2024, INSVikrant and INSVikramaditya were deployed for conducting joint operations on various locations along the Indian coastline with escorts. In the first week of March, while INSVikramaditya was hosting the first half of the Indian Navy's Biannual Naval Commanders' Conference 2024, both carriers launched MiG-29K fighters simultaneously. In addition, the carriers accommodated and conveyed numerous reporters to report on the commissioning ceremony ofINS Jatayu, located onMinicoy Island in theLakshadweep archipelago on the southwest coast of mainland India.[116]
On 3 December 2024, it was reported that INS Vikrant is fully operational after achieving Final Operational Clearance (FOC) after various trials in November 2023 and integration with the Western Fleet in August 2024.[114][123]
2025
TROPEX 2025
INSVikrant was deployed for an overnight sea sortie as part of the AMPHEX andTROPEX 2025 exercise. Multiple senior officers from the three branches of the Armed Forces includingLt GenJohnson P Mathew, Lt GenN. S. Raja Subramani,VAdm K Swaminathan,Air MarshalSP Dharkar and Lt Gen Ajay Kumar embarked on the aircraft carrier on 30 January 2025 to witness the Joint Phase of the exercise off the West Coast.VCAS Air Marshal Dharkar arrived in a MiG-29KUB trainer enhancing jointness in the Armed Forces. Operations such as air strikes, anti-submarine drills, and amphibious landings were simulated.[124][125] Following the exercise,Vikrant andINSDeepak responded to a distress call and conducted aMEDEVAC operation fromMV Heilan Star, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, located about 230 nautical miles off the coast ofGoa. The rescued crew were immediately flown toINS Hansa using one of Vikrant'sWestland Sea King helicopters.[126]
2025 India–Pakistan standoff
INS Vikrant Carrier Battle Group (CGB) deployed duringOperation Sindoor
Amid2025 India–Pakistan standoff following the 22 April'sPahalgam attack, INSVikrant was deployed to theArabian Sea.[127][128] DuringOperation Sindoor, the Indian Navy had deployed a total of 36 warships which included an INSVikrant-led Carrier Battle Group including 8 to 10 warships. The deployment included the entire fleet of sevenKolkata andVisakhapatnam-class destroyers withBrahMos andMRSAM missiles as well as seven frigates (includingINS Tushil) and around six submarines. The ships deployed by the Indian Navy reportedly outnumbered both the numbers deployed by thePakistan Navy and India's own deployment duringOperation Trident andOperation Python in 1971 where six warships took part.[129][130] According to the Director General of Naval Operations, the Navy was prepared to strike multiple Pakistani locations at any time includingKarachi. The carrier battle group, surface combatants as well as submarines were deployed in the NorthernArabian Sea within 96 hours of the terrorist attack. According to the officer, the deployment also forced Pakistan's air and naval assets to remain in a "defensive posture".[131] The aircraft carrier was forward deployed for four straight days after which it reportedly returned to its home base.[128]
Defence MinisterRajnath Singh visited the ship inGoa on 30 May following the operational deployment.[132] It was later reported that the Indian Navy had its target packages assigned and were on "hot-standby" to launch land-attack missiles at targets inside Pakistan multiple times. Targets included Pakistan Navy ships and submarines in harbour and other land targets. Both BrahMos andKlub submarine-launched cruise missile equipped platforms were deployed during Operation Sindoor. Reportedly, most of the Pakistani naval assets were kept back at harbour and the carrier's integral fighters, the MiG-29K fleet, kept the Pakistani aerial fleet under pressure during the standoff. Meanwhile, unspecified land-based naval assets were used to strike terror bases in Pakistan.[133]The Indian media claimed that few days after the conflict, a MiG-29K had intercepted a lone PakistaniRAS-72 Sea Eagle, which was forced to return to base.[133]
The exercise included an aerial exercise conducted betweenRoyal Air Force'sF-35B andVikrant's MiG-29K fleet. This was followed by a combined submarined hunt operation which included Royal NavyMerlin Mk2 helicopters operating fromPrince of Wales andRichmond and Indian NavyP-8I Neptune aircraft trying to detect an Indian submarine.[141][142]
International Fleet Review in Colombo
On 26 November 2025,Vikrant arrived at thePort of Colombo, Sri Lanka to participate in the International Fleet Review 2025 (IFR), held as part of the 75th anniversary of theSri Lanka Navy.[143][144][145]
^"India launches home-built, 37,500-tonne aircraft carrier in a shot across the bow to China".National Post. Associated Press. 12 August 2013.Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved18 May 2015.The 37,500 tonne INS Vikrant is expected to go for extensive trials in 2016 before being inducted into the navy by 2017, reports say. With this, India joins the select group of countries comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and France capable of building such a vessel.
India
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