BAE Systems Offers Its Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier Design For Indian Navy’s Upcoming 65,000 Tonne Warship

With the Indian Navy vying to have two more air craft carriers in addition to the INS Vikramaditya that is already in service, United Kingdom based BAE Systems has put on offer its Queen Elizabeth Class carrier design for India’s naval force, reports Australian Defence Magazine (ADM).

Expressing willingness to be part of “Make In India” program, BAE has shown interest in helping India build its third and the largest carrier, INS Vishal, which will weigh around 65,000 tonne. The ship will be built in Cochin Shipyard and is expected to be operational by 2030.

Briefing the media in the recently concluded Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition in Malaysia last week, BAE sysytems representative said, “BAE Systems is pleased to have begun discussions with India about the potential for basing development of the second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2) project on the Queen Elizabeth class design,”

“The design is adaptable to offer either ski-jump or catapult launch and can be modified to meet Indian Navy and local industry requirements,” the representative said, as reported by ADM.

India currently has one air craft carrier in service - the 45,000 tonne INS Vikramaditya accommodating MiG-29 fighters and helicopters. A second carrier - a 40,000 tonne INS Vikrant - is in the final stages of development at the Cochin Shipyard. Vikrant is expected to begin its sea trials by 2020.