INS Vikrant will significantly increase strategic capability of India, says expert

India's maiden indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was formally commissioned today after completing almost a year of trials at sea. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 45,000 tonne carrier at the Cochin Shipyard.

At 262 metres long and 62 metres wide, the Rs 20,000 crore warship is India’s largest aircraft carrier to be built domestically — this takes India on par with US, UK, China, France and Russia, the elite group of nations to build an aircraft carrier in house. The carrier can accommodate more than 1,500 crew members and nearly 30 aircrafts, including MIG fighter jets and helicopters.

The first aircraft carrier to be operated by the Indian navy was also called Vikrant — it was officially commissioned in 1961 and played a significant role during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. After 36 years of service, the ship was decommissioned in 1997 before being dismantled and sold.