India plans construction of largest warship

Taking a cue from its first indigenous aircraft carrier programme, India is now envisaging construction of the largest warship in the country – a 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier named INS Vishal (literally meaning Huge) with the latest fighter jets and helicopters onboard.

The fighter jet is scheduled to enter the Indian Navy’s flotilla by 2025 and is presently in design phase.

“Taking a lesson from the delays faced in the construction of the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, we (the Department of Naval Design) have already began working on the design of the next one with an added tonnage of 25,000 tonnes,” sources said. Where this sea leviathan will be constructed is yet to be finalized.

Initially, the second aircraft carrier was also planned to have 44,000 tonnage, but the Indian Navy put up a requirement for a flat top carrier with an extra 25,000 tonne displacement to make it a more potent platform.

Russian Sukhoi Su-33 and MiG-35; and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) fighter jets are likely to operate from the aircraft carrier. “The aircraft carrier is likely to have Catapult to launch fighter jets mainly used in the US platform. So far the Indian Navy has operated ski-jump assisted launch of fighters,” the sources add.

The floating flying deck would also be capable to operate airborne early warning systems and mid air refueller aircraft. 

Sources indicated that the ambitious project would cost around $ 2 billion, which is less than that of Russian Admiral Gorshkov which is presently undergoing sea trials and will join the Indian Navy as INS Vikrmaditya by year end. India is paying $2.34 billion to the Russian for refurbishing Gorshkov.

“INS Vishal is envisaged to join Indian Navy sometime in 2025 when INS Virat will no more be in the service and INS Vikramditya and INS Vikrant would be guarding the eastern and western coastlines,” added the sources.

The first indigenous carrier is being built at a cost of $ 750 million in Cochin shipyard Limited. The aircraft carrier is already being delayed by more than 2 years and is now expected to be inducted in Navy not before by 2017.