Aircraft carrier Vikrant undergoes series of sea trials
The sea trials of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant, the largest and most complex warship to be built in the country, were conducted in Kochi
The 40,000-tonne warship, built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore, propels India into a select group of countries having capabilities to build state-of-the-art aircraft carriers
The warship, which will operate MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 helicopters, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,700 people
Vikrant has a top speed of around 28 knots and cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles
The aircraft carrier, with more than 76 per cent indigenous components, is expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy by August 2022