The IAC is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited. Credit: Ministry of Defence/Press Information Bureau/Government of India.

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated that the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), INS Vikrant, has completed its first sea voyage.

The five-day sea voyage commenced on 4 August and the trials progressed as planned, with the system parameters confirmed as ‘satisfactory’.

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The MoD said that INS Vikrant’s hull, main propulsion, power generation and distribution (PGD) and auxiliary equipment were tested.

Despite the delay in the sea trials due to the second wave of Covid-19, dedicated efforts of workmen, original equipment manufacturers, engineers, designers, and the ship’s crew supported the successful completion of maiden voyage.

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) is constructing the IAC designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND).

CSL completed the basin trials of INS Vikrant in November last year. Basin trials were carried out to test the propulsion, transmission and shafting systems.

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The 40,000t IAC Vikrant is capable of accommodating MiG 29K fighter jets and helicopters.

The 262m-long and 62m-wide carrier is claimed to be the largest ship to be built at the Cochin Shipyard.

It has more than 2,300 compartments and is designed to accommodate around 1,700 people, with accommodation spaces for female officers.

The carrier will continue to execute sea trials to prove all equipment and systems before it is handed over to the Indian Navy.

INS Vikrant is expected to be delivered to the navy next year.

IAC is one of the leading examples of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and the ‘Make in India’ initiatives introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Atmanirbhar Bharat aims to make India self-reliant and increase domestic defence manufacturing in the country.

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