There has been an everlasting debate over the past 70 years on sea denial and sea control. Although it is partially ideological, it is highly relevant to a country with limited resources to spare for defence procurements
With much pomp and pageantry, the Indian Navy commissioned INS Vikrant, its first home-built aircraft carrier, last week. With this, India joins the elite club of the world’s naval powers with more than one aircraft/helicopter carrier. The vessel — 262m (860ft) long and almost 60m (197ft) tall — can house up to 30 fighter planes and helicopters. With 14 decks, the ship has over 2,300 compartments and can accommodate 1,700 personnel. It has a top speed of around 28 knots (more than 50 km per hour) and a cruising speed of 18 knots, with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.
Most importantly, with over 76% of the material and equipment on board being indigenous — including 21,500 tonnes of special grade steel — the vessel highlights the slow but steady progress made by the Indian defence industry in achieving the much-needed defence indigenisation.
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