Vikrant-class aircraft carrier
India's first home-built aircraft carrier.
About the carrier
The Vikrant class (formerly Project 71 Air Defence Ship (ADS) or Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)) is a class of aircraft carrier being built for the Indian Navy. The class represents the largest warships and the first aircraft carriers to be designed and built in India. Preparations for building the lead vessel of the class, INS Vikrant, started in 2008, and the keel was laid in February 2009.
Service history
Ordered in 2004 and laid down at Cochin Shipyard in 2009, INS Vikrant took 13 years to reach commissioning in 2022 — delayed by steel supply, gearbox imports and the sheer novelty of the task. Roughly 76% of her content is Indian, including the warship-grade DMR-249A steel developed by SAIL and DRDO. She revives the name of India's first carrier, which served from 1961 to 1997.
Commissioned hulls
| Name | Pennant | Commissioned | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| INS Vikrant | R11 | 2022 | Cochin Shipyard |
Combat edge
First carrier designed and built in India
~76% indigenous content, including Indian-made hull steel
Air wing of about 30 aircraft, STOBAR configuration
Revives the name of the 1961 Vikrant