The Indian Navy has released details of its next aircraft carrier which will be a 65,000 tonne behemoth powered by electric propulsion, Manu Pubby of The Economic Times has reported.
The aircraft carrier, which is likely to be non-nuclear, will become India’s third such fleet carrier. It will also be equipped with CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery or Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery), which aides in the takeoff and landing of aircraft on the carrier.
However, Navy Chief Admiral Karanbir Singh has reiterated that it is currently too early to declare timelines. He added that the Navy needs long term fiscal support to expand.
As reported recently, this aircraft carrier is currently on the drawing board and requirements have virtually been finalised but the project’s progress depends upon the availability of funds. When complete, it will be the third aircraft carrier in the Indian Navy’s arsenal.
The Indian Navy currently has one aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in full service. INS Vikramaditya a Keiv-class carrier was inducted into service in 2013 after being remodelled from a decommissioned Soviet era battleship.
India’s second aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is currently in advanced stages of construction and would be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2021 for aviation and advanced trials. The basin trials may begin by as early as next year.
The carrier currently being built by the Cochin shipyard is expected to be fully commissioned into service by 2023.
The 40,000 tonne aircraft carrier has a capacity to carry up to 30 aircraft at a given time including 24 to 26 fixed-wing combat aircraft. The beast will be powered by four General Electric gas turbines.
INS Viraat, India’s first aircraft carrier was decommissioned from service in March 2017. It began service in 1953 and was India’s longest serving aircraft carrier. Initially efforts were made to convert it into a museum but the plan has virtually been scrapped due to a lack of any self-sustaining financial proposal.
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