Indian Defence Review

Artist's impression of India's IAC

The Indian Navy’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) to be christened ‘INS Vikrant’ will not be ready before 2017, more than three years behind schedule. Although its design was initially approved by the government in 2003, the modular construction began in 2005. The keel of the 40,000 tonne-carrier was launched on February 28, 2009, by the Indian Minister of Defence, AK Antony when the Navy and Cochin Shipyard aimed at launching the ship in water by 2010 which may now happen only sometime in 2013 or early 2014. The plans called for induction of the vessel in to the service by 2014 after equipping it with arms and fighter aircraft. Explaining the problem encountered with the manufacturing of the gear box, an Indian Navy officer said the Indian company assigned the task, could not meet the laid-down specifications. A German firm was then roped in and manufacture expedited. The first gear box has already been shipped and the second is on its way. IAC-2 with improved features and bigger was on the anvil but its final configuration was yet to be finalised.