In September of last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Vikrant, India’s first ingeniously built aircraft carrier and the largest ship ever built in India’s maritime history, in Kochi.
With INS Vikrant now fully operational at sea, it strengthens the nation’s maritime security and is seen as a significant step towards India’s self-reliance in the defence sector. It also demonstrates India’s maritime power in the Indian subcontinent and the country’s continued dominance in the region and beyond. During the aircraft carrier’s maiden visit to Mumbai, Captain Vidhyadhar Harke, Commanding Officer of INS Vikrant, fielded a slew of questions about the aircraft carrier, India’s position as a maritime power, and the development of Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean sea lanes of communication.
Few Questions from the Interview
How do you believe the addition of INS Vikrant will improve the Indian Navy’s capabilities?
With the INS Vikrant, India has joined a select group of nations that can design and build an aircraft carrier in-house, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France. This warship represents India’s strength and power. Seventy-six percent of its content is Indian, and it is built at Cochin Shipyard. The Warship Design Bureau of India created the design. Building and maintaining an aircraft carrier is a difficult task. India has the world’s fifth-largest economy, and with INS Vikrant, we will strengthen our position in the Indian Ocean.
The country is focused on maintaining the availability of all facilities and opening communication sea lanes while maintaining freedom of navigation, and an aircraft carrier is an important part of that. This has helped 500 ancillary units and other industries. The technologies developed for these warships are used not only for ships or defence, but also for other infrastructure. The ropes and steel used on the ship can also be used outside, and it is all manufactured by India’s steel authorities. Building a ship is important, but so is having a positive impact on the overall economy and enhancement.
What changes have been done in this aircraft carrier since its previous version?
The ship can support an air wing of 30 aircraft, including Navy MiG-29K fighter jets, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). The fighter aircraft are launched using the Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) method, and it also has a ski-jump for launching aircraft and a set of three arrester wires’ for onboard recovery. The ship has 2,200 compartments and can house a crew of approximately 1,600 people.
How soon do you think INS Vikrant will be ready for combat?
Any aircraft carrier has a finite gestation period for transitioning from commissioning to operating aircraft and achieving full combat capability. We were able to operate aircraft within five months. And this is only the beginning. We will expand on that and integrate it with the fleet, as well as all aircraft that can be integrated. This platform will also be used for pilot training. Having completed so many intense operations within five months of its commissioning demonstrates that the Indian Navy is capable of operating an aircraft carrier. We intend to reach our full combat potential to become a single combat-capable and credible platform.
Do you think India needs to have more aircraft carriers?
Safe sea link communication is critical in the blue economy. The post-independence fleet development plan included four aircraft carriers. Three aircraft carriers were proposed by planners in 1950. So, thinking along those lines, the Navy, which is centered on the aircraft carrier, should require more aircraft carriers. If we can build our own aircraft carriers, it will be a significant step forward. More aircraft carriers are needed.
What role do you see the Indian navy playing in the Indo-Pacific region?
India is a firm believer in maintaining relations, and we will work to maintain sea communication links and the availability of all facilities emanating from the seas. The warship will help to keep the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions peaceful and stable.
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Also read:
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