India joined an elite club of nations on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Indian PM congratulated every person associated with the aircraft carrier for achieving the feat.
“The steel used on INS Vikrant is made in India. The cables used in INS Vikrant can stretch from Kochi to Kashi. INS Vikrant is as big as two football grounds. The electricity it can produce can illuminate 5,000 houses,” PM Modi said. INS Vikrant is a floating airfield, a floating town, PM Modi added.
“Vikrant is large and grand, Vikrant is distinct, Vikrant is special. Vikrant is not just a warship, it is the evidence of the hardwork, talent, impact and commitment of India of the 21st century,” PM Modi said.
INS Vikrant is an example of Government's thrust to making India's defence sector self-reliant. https://t.co/97GkAzZ3sk
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 2, 2022
According to PM Modi, INS Vikrant is an example of the government’s push to make India’s defence sector self-reliant. He added that India now joins the select group of nations that have their own aircraft carriers.
PM Modi dedicated the aircraft carrier to legendary Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji. He reiterated what he said on Independence Day – no matter how difficult the goal is, no matter how big the challenges are, when India decides no goal is impossible to achieve.
PM Modi also unveiled a plaque to mark the induction of INS Vikrant, named after its predecessor that played a crucial role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, into the Navy.
INS Vikrant
The largest ship ever built in India’s maritime history; INS Vikrant is the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. The carrier has state of the automation facilities. The ship is 262 metres in length and has been built by Cochin Shipyard.
The ship’s keel was laid on 12 August 2013 and it was finally commissioned today. The hangar of the aircraft carrier is as big as two Olympic-size pools. Initially, the warship will carry MiG-29k fighter jets and some helicopters. The Navy will conduct aviation trials after it takes over the warship’s command. 30 aircraft can be embarked on the carrier and it can carry 1600 crew members.
