10 Fascinating Facts About India’s First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

INS Vikrant: 10 Fascinating Facts About India’s First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

India has marked a significant milestone in naval history with the commissioning of INS Vikrant, the country's first indigenously built aircraft carrier. Here are 10 mind-blowing facts about this engineering marvel that will leave you in awe of India’s growing naval strength.

**1. Made in India, Made for the Seas**
INS Vikrant is the first aircraft carrier built entirely in India, designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). This is a major boost to the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative.

**2. A Floating City**
Weighing around 45,000 tonnes, Vikrant is a massive structure – comparable to a 20-storey building and as long as two football fields placed end to end. It can house over 1,600 crew members, making it a true city at sea.

**3. Ski-Jump Launch System**
The carrier uses a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system with a ski-jump ramp for aircraft to launch. This enables fighter jets like the MiG-29K to take off even on a short runway.

**4. High-Speed Performance**
INS Vikrant can cruise at 28 knots (over 50 km/h), thanks to its four gas turbines generating 80 megawatts of power. That’s enough to light up a small city!

**5. 75% Indigenous Components**
From steel to sensors, about 75% of the components used in building INS Vikrant were sourced from India. It includes materials from over 500 Indian companies, proving India’s industrial and engineering capabilities.

**6. Air Wing Power**
Vikrant can carry up to 30 aircraft, including fighter jets like the MiG-29K and helicopters such as the Kamov-31 and MH-60R. These aircraft serve roles in reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, and combat.

**7. Named After a Legend**
The name “Vikrant” means “courageous” or “victorious” in Sanskrit. It honors the original INS Vikrant, which played a crucial role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

**8. Built for the Next 40 Years**
INS Vikrant has been designed to serve for at least four decades, with upgrades and modernizations planned over time. It will play a key role in maintaining India’s dominance in the Indian Ocean Region.

**9. Massive Flight Deck**
Its 260-meter-long flight deck provides enough space for simultaneous take-offs and landings, just like a runway on land — except it’s floating in the sea!

**10. Symbol of Sovereignty**
Beyond its military power, INS Vikrant stands as a symbol of national pride, showcasing India’s rise as a global player in defence manufacturing and technological innovation.

INS Vikrant is more than a warship — it's a message. A message of strength, resilience, and the determination to build a future that is self-reliant and secure. As the waves crash against its hull, Vikrant sails forward, proudly carrying the hopes and might of a billion Indians.