The powerful INS Vikrant of the Indian Navy has been stationed in the Arabian Sea amid the escalating tension between the two countries. Although there have been allegations of the INS Vikrant attacking the Karachi port in Pakistan, the action has not yet been confirmed. Although the Indian Navy has not yet launched an attack, rumors state that it is protecting India from the sea and is prepared to stop any mishap involving Pakistan.
A massive fire is said to have started near the port, and while tensions are rising, sirens are continuously blaring to advise residents to stay inside their houses.
What is INS Vikrant
INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier currently serving in the Indian Navy. It is the country’s fourth aircraft carrier and the first to be built indigenously by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). Named in honor of India’s original aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (commissioned in 1961), the name “Vikrant” translates to “courageous” in Sanskrit. The ship’s motto, “जयेम सम् युधिस्पृधः,” means “I defeat those who dare to challenge me.” Alongside INS Vikramaditya, it is one of the two operational aircraft carriers in the Indian Navy.
The design of the ship began in 1999, with the keel being laid in 2009. It was floated out of dry dock in December 2011 and officially launched in August 2013. Basin trials concluded in December 2020, followed by the commencement of sea trials in August 2021. The ship was formally commissioned on 2 September 2022, and aircraft flight trials were completed in 2023. The overall project cost was around ₹23,000 crore (about ₹260 billion or US$3.1 billion as of 2023).
INS Vikrant measures 262 meters (860 feet) in length, can reach speeds of up to 28 knots (52 km/h or 32 mph), and has a range of 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km or 8,600 miles). It houses 2,300 compartments and a crew of 1,700 personnel. The ship includes a hospital facility, accommodations for female officers, 8 kilometers (5 miles) of internal corridors, and eight generators powerful enough to supply electricity to a city of 2 million people.
INS Vikrant measures 262 meters (860 feet) in length and 62 meters (203 feet) in width, with a displacement of around 45,000 tonnes (44,000 long tons; 50,000 short tons). It uses a STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration and can host up to 36 aircraft, including 26 fixed-wing combat planes. The air wing also comprises Dhruv MK-III, Sikorsky MH-60R, and Kamov Ka-31 helicopters. The Ka-31 handles airborne early warning duties, the MH-60R is equipped for both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, and the Dhruv helicopters are primarily used for search and rescue missions.
The carrier is powered by four General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines driving two shafts, producing over 80 megawatts (110,000 horsepower). Elecon Engineering designed and supplied the ship’s gearboxes.
Its combat management system (CMS), developed by Tata Advanced Systems, is the first of its kind created by a private firm for the Indian Navy and was officially delivered on 28 March 2019.
Although INS Vikrant is yet to show its full might and play it’s significant role in the current Pakistan war situation, its mere presence in the PoK Waters in Arabian Sea has surely set chills in the spines of Pakistani Defense Forces.
In June 2023, the Indian Navy demonstrated dual aircraft carrier operations featuring INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The exercise involved 35 aircraft, including the MiG-29K, MH 60R, Kamov Ka-31, Sea King, Chetak, and HAL Dhruv, enhancing the coordination between the Navy’s carriers.By November 2023, INS Vikrant attained full operational capability, giving the Indian Navy two fully operational Carrier Battle Groups (CBGs).In mid-February 2024, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya participated in Milan 2024, a multinational naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy. Various ships, submarines, and aircraft from allied nations also joined. The sea phase of the exercise concluded aboard INS Vikrant.From late February to early March 2024, both carriers were deployed for joint operations along multiple points of India’s coastline, supported by escort vessels. In March’s first week, while INS Vikramaditya hosted the initial session of the Biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2024, both carriers simultaneously launched MiG-29K fighters. They also facilitated media coverage of INS Jatayu’s commissioning on Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep.On 20 August 2024, INS Vikrant was formally inducted into the Western Fleet. It took part in a multi-domain exercise and joint carrier-based fighter operations in the Arabian Sea alongside the INS Vikramaditya-led CBG, which included Kolkata-class destroyers and Talwar-class frigates. Prior to this, Vikrant had undergone a guarantee refit and sea trials at Cochin Shipyard Limited, where it received upgrades such as Barak 8 missiles and the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR radar. Its air wing comprised 30 aircraft, including MiG-29Ks and various helicopters.On 7 November 2024, President Droupadi Murmu visited INS Vikrant off the Goa coast from INS Hansa. The deployment featured 15 frontline warships, including three Kalvari-class, two Shishumar-class, and one Sindhughosh-class submarine. Demonstrations included MiG-29K carrier operations, missile launches, submarine maneuvers, and flypasts by 30 aircraft.By 3 December 2024, INS Vikrant was confirmed to be fully operational, having received Final Operational Clearance (FOC) following successful trials in November 2023 and its integration with the Western Fleet in August 2024.As part of the AMPHEX and TROPEX 2025 exercises, INS Vikrant conducted an overnight sea sortie. On 30 January 2025, senior leaders from all three Armed Forces—including Lt Gen Johnson P Mathew, Lt Gen N. S. Raja Subramani, Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan, Air Marshal S. P. Dharkar, and Lt Gen Ajay Kumar—embarked on the vessel to observe the joint operations off India’s west coast. Air Marshal Dharkar’s arrival in a MiG-29KUB trainer highlighted inter-service cooperation. The exercises simulated air strikes, anti-submarine warfare, and amphibious assaults.After the drill, Vikrant and INS Deepak responded to a distress signal and executed a medical evacuation from the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Heilan Star, located about 230 nautical miles off Goa. The rescued crew were swiftly airlifted to INS Hansa via a Westland Sea King helicopter from Vikrant.
For more such updates, stay hooked to mortentechnologies.com!