Defence Procurement Board has given nod for the proposal of Navy Chief Admiral R. Harikumar for the building of the second aircraft carrier, after INS Vikranth. It is estimated to cost Rs 40,000 cr. Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) requires the permission of the Defence Acquisition Council meeting, to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, before it starts the ship building. Council is also expected to discuss the shopping of 97 new jet planes.
The new aircraft carrier is expected to be built on the same platform where INS Vikrant was built. Bharat Navy calls this project ‘Repeat of Vikrant’. “INS Vikrant” did cost Rs 21,000 cr. The new vessel is to have most sophisticated information technologies including artificial intelligence. It is a leap forward compared to ‘Vikrant’. It will be fit for the next generation digital wars. Bharat Electronics, BHEL, Tata, Maheendra, L&T and Kalyani will take part in the project.
Country’s largest dry dock is being constructed in Cochin; it costs Rs 1800 cr. New aircraft carrier is going to be built in it. Preparations are in progress for starting the job in May. Platforms will be capable to bear heavy weight, 700 tons per sq. meter. A capacity of 250 tons is enough for non-aircraft carrier vessel. Hyundai Samho-made 600 ton gantry crane has reached from South Korea. Two 85 ton jib cranes are expected shortly.
At the moment, Bharat Navy has got two aircraft carriers in its fleet. Indigenously made INS Vikranth is in Bay of Bengal. Russian-made INS Vikramaditya is in Arabian Sea. Navy chief has demanded a new aircraft carrier to make sure the security in the waters when the referenced two vessels undergo repairs.
When the third aircraft carrier joins the country’s Navy fleet, it will give enhance the upper hand of Bharat in the seas in the area.
