India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier

INS Vikrant catapults India into a select group of nations capable of building aircraft carriers at a time when Delhi seeks to counter increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean

Propulsion: Four General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines
Ski jump: 12-degree ramp assists take-off
Aircraft: 26 MiG-29K fighters and 10 helicopters

INS VIKRANT
Total length 262m
Displacement 45,000 tonnes
Top speed 28 knots
Crew Around 1,600
Total range 13,900km

INDIA-CHINA CARRIER COMPARISON
INS Vikramaditya Commissioned in 2013
India’s first aircraft carrier built using modified Kiev-class carrier  purchased from Russia
Displacement: 45,000 tonnes

INS Vikrant 45,000 tonnes
India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier

Liaoning 2012 66,000 tonnes
China’s first carrier built using Soviet-era hull

Type 001A Shandong 2019  70,000 tonnes
First indigenously-built aircraft carrier

Type 003 Fujian 2022. Indigenously-
built, features full-length flight deck with catapult launch system
85,000 tonnes

© GRAPHIC NEWS
Sources: Indian Navy, Navy Recognition
Picture: Cochin Shipyard Limited