India plans a 65,000-tonne warship
By Ritu Sharma - NEW DELHI
06th August 2012 08:36 AM
-
The new project would cost around $ 2 billion, less than that of $2.34 billion-worth Russian Admiral Gorshkov, which will join the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya by year-end. (Photo source: Wikimedia common)
Taking a cue from its first indigenous aircraft carrier programme, India is now envisaging construction of its largest warship yet – a 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier named INS Vishal (literally meaning ‘huge’) with the latest fighter jets and choppers onboard.
The warship is scheduled to enter the Indian Navy’s flotilla by 2025 and is presently in its design phase.
“Taking a lesson from delays faced in the construction of the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, we have already begun working on the design of the next one with an added tonnage of 25,000 tonnes,” sources told Express. Where this sea leviathan will be constructed is yet to be finalised.
Initially, the second aircraft carrier was also planned to have a 44,000 tonnage, but the Indian Navy put up a requirement for a flat top carrier with an extra 25,000 tonne displacement to make it a more potent platform.
Russian Sukhoi Su-33 and MiG-35 and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) fighter jets are likely to operate from the aircraft carrier.
“The aircraft carrier is likely to have a catapult to launch fighter jets, mainly used in the US platform. So far the Indian Navy has operated ski-jump assisted launch of fighters,” sources added. The floating flying deck would also be capable of operating airborne early warning systems and mid-air refueller aircraft.
Sources indicated that the ambitious project would cost around $ 2 billion, less than that of $2.34 billion-worth Russian Admiral Gorshkov.
The Gorshkov will join the Navy as INS Vikramaditya by year-end. “INS Vishal is envisaged to join the Navy in 2025, when INS Virat will no more be in service and INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant would be guarding the eastern and western coastlines,” added sources.
Post a Comment
Recent Activity
- For team Rahul, it’s good politics that will yield rich dividends for poor Indians
- 'Climate change may spell disaster for coastal economy'
- Lanka’s woman Thavil players fading away
- Pakistan's answer to electricity shortages: Don't wear socks
- All dead, no vultures fly in Andhra now!
- Lingerie mannequins face moral police wrath
- Incredible India! Cuppa at Rs 1,200 is Chiru’s idea of sustainable tourism
- Farmer gets wise, beats drought with micro-irrigation
- Super Kings hope to ride Mumbai's hit wave
- 6,000 ducks die of plague in Thrissur
- India, China focus on civil nuke cooperation
- IPL spot-fixing: Cops probing Bollywood, Tollywood links
- Meghalaya's CMJ University faces probe after awarding suspicious PhDs
- Man arrested for attempt to attack TV host Ranjini Haridas
- Rs 20 Lakhs seized from Ajit Chandila's cricket kit
- Incredible India! Cuppa at Rs 1,200 is Chiru’s idea of sustainable tourism
Comments(10)
It is good that we fulfill our needs ourselves. Russian scraps are expensive and have technical flaws as found in Sukois. Of late, Russia has become a highway man.
Posted by chandru mani iyer at 08/06/2012 12:17 Reply to this Report abuse
Great news. Finally we are putting our Brains and money to work. We have the people and expertise to build what we want. Why waste our precious money on buying Russian junk? For fifty years now, we have lost half our MiG fleet due to accidents caused by faulty design and sub- standard aircraft. Isnt it enough? There comes a time when we need to stand by our brilliant scientists and encourage them to build stuff for our country, and not rely on foreign weapons systems!
Posted by Venkat at 08/06/2012 17:31 Reply to this Report abuse
I think if India wanted a carrier, The US Navy should have at least offered them a Used Forrestal-class aircraft carrier such as the USS Constellation (CV-64), USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), USS Independence (CV-62), USS Saratoga (CV-60) and even the USS Forrestal (CV-59). It would give India a carrier that is ready to go and all India would pay is the cost of refit, bringing the carrier back online, training cost and any associated hardware and software that India wants on their carrier. On top of that it would give the US a short term boost in shipyard jobs.
Posted by Nicky at 08/06/2012 23:30 Reply to this Report abuse
Its a good news that India is developing its own carriers. We need to be self reliant ASAP. However, whats with all this Russia baiting. What is Russia's fault? That it agreed to sell us at barter rates, high performance jets when US didn't? No body forced India to buy Russian. In fact Russian hardware is second to none, but, we chose the believe propagandas of western press. Please educate yourself on dynamics of why IAF is experiencing high crash rates before coming out here and vomiting ignorance. Makes no sense to continuously deride our strategic partners.
Posted by shankar at 08/07/2012 14:53 Reply to this Report abuse
Mig-35 and Su-33 ?? Su-33 has been retired by Russians and their is no Naval Mig-35 ever developed and India is using Mig-29k and may be even Rafale M but never this platforms
Posted by vinay at 08/07/2012 14:55 Reply to this Report abuse