INS Vikrant: 1st Made in India Aircraft-Carrier Commissioned; It's a Floating Town, Says PM Modi, Unveils Plaque

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday termed the commissioning of INS Vikrant as a testament to the resolve of the government to ensure the safety and security of the nation in the next 25 years. Singh said Vikrant was a glowing symbol of an aspirational and self-reliant ‘New India’. Speaking during the commissioning of the ship at the Cochin Shipyard Limited, Singh said Vikrant is an icon of pride, power and resolve of the nation. “Its commissioning is an unprecedented achievement in the path of building indigenous warships. The navy’s tradition is ‘old ships never die’. This new avatar of Vikrant, which played a stellar role in the 1971 war, is a humble tribute to our freedom fighters and brave soldiers,” Singh said. PTI

Pride and nostalgia filled the air as India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Indian Navy on Friday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — a milestone event for the force, which saw hundreds of naval personnel and veterans inside a packed hall at the Cochin Shipyard Limited premises. It was a moment of sheer pride for most serving naval officers and sailors, as the commissioning of INS Vikrant — referred to as a floating airfield — takes India into a league of select nations who have got the capability to build an aircraft carrier with a displacement of over 40,000 tonnes. READ MORE

The Congress on Friday attacked PM Narendra Modi for “taking credit for the commissioning of” INS Vikrant and accused him of “hypocrisy” for not recognising the contributions made by earlier governments. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi congratulated the Indian Navy, the naval design bureau and Cochin Shipyard for the commissioning of the first indigenously designed and manufactured aircraft carrier, and termed it a significant step for the country’s maritime security. Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh shared a video of former defence minister AK Antony launching INS Vikrant in August 2013 and said it just happens that the Modi government is in power when the aircraft carrier is being commissioned. “The Modi government has nothing to do with this. The Modi government just happens to be in power when it is being commissioned. In fact, INS Vikrant was launched years ago by Mr A K Antony when he was the defence minister. It has taken 22 years to design, manufacture, test, launch and finally be commissioned today. All that the Modi government has done is commissioning of the vessel and he is taking credit for it,” Ramesh told PTI. “So this is hypocrisy, which is typical of the current Prime Minister,” he said, adding that the credit goes to earlier governments, the credit goes to the Indian Navy and scientists, the engineers and the workers in the shipyard. “It is an achievement that will add to the country’s strength. It is very typical of Mr Modi not to recognise the contributions made by earlier governments, of which he is the beneficiary,” the senior Congress leader added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday commissioned the first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi in a significant step towards self-reliance in the defence sector. Terming the event a “tribute” to India’s rising spirits on the world horizon, PM Modi said: “INS Vikrant is a floating airfield, a floating town… and the power generated in it can light up 5,000 houses, while the cables can run to Kashi from Kochi.” At 262 m long and 62 m wide, INS Vikrant is the largest warship to be built in India. It can have 30 aircraft on board, including MiG-29K fighter jets and helicopters. The warship can accommodate a crew of nearly 1,600. It is named after its predecessor, which played a key role during the 1971 war against Pakistan for the liberation of Bangladesh. READ MORE

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the commissioning of the indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant into the navy is a tribute to the rich naval power of the rulers of ancient India. “The commissioning of INS Vikrant, largest ship ever built in India, by Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodi ji is a fitting tribute to rich naval heritage of the Ahoms, the Marathas & the Cholas,” Sarma wrote on Twitter. He added that the carrier’s motto ‘Jayema Sam Yudhi Spradha’ reflects Indian Navy’s true spirit. PTI

India on Friday formally commissioned its first home-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, a culmination of 17 years of construction and tests. INS Vikrant is the largest ship ever built in India’s maritime history and houses state-of-the-art automation features. It has been built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore at the Cochin Shipyard. With the construction of ‘Vikrant’, India has joined a select group of nations such as US, UK, Russia, China and France, having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier. With the commissioning of INS Vikrant, India will have two operational aircraft carriers to bolster maritime security, the other being INS Vikramaditya. News18 takes a look at how the two warships stack up against each other. READ MORE

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday congratulated the Indian Navy, the naval design bureau and Cochin Shipyard for the commissioning of the first indigenously designed and manufactured aircraft carrier and termed it a significant step for the country’s maritime security. “Many congratulations to the Indian Navy, the Naval Design Bureau and Cochin Shipyard for the many years of hard work that has made the vision of INS Vikrant come true. India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, Vikrant is a significant step for India’s maritime security,” Gandhi said on Twitter while sharing a picture of the aircraft carrier. PTI

With the commissioning of Vikrant, India joined a select group of nations having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier. SEE PHOTOS

“It’s a proud moment for India they built an indigenous major aircraft carrier. India is moving towards self-reliance & has shown that it’s moving fastly towards becoming a major global power. World needs super strong India,” Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador to India told news agency ANI. “We are very much committed & enthusiastic about future cooperation between Russia and India in trade, technology, production & other fields despite current difficulties & tensions in the world,” he added.

Modi on Friday said INS Vikrant is an example of Indian government’s thrust to making its defence sector self-reliant and has made the country part of the select group of nations who can indigenously make aircraft carriers. Modi also unveiled the Indian Navy’s new ensign which drops the St George’s Cross and incorporates the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Addressing a large gathering at the commissioning ceremony of INS Vikrant, Modi said with the new ensign, the country has shed its colonial past. Till today Indian Naval flags carried a sign of slavery which has been replaced with a new one inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said.

The Congress on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to acknowledge the efforts of previous governments in building INS Vikrant — India’s first Indigenous aircraft.

“India’s 1st indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant commissioned today is a collective effort of all govts since 1999. Will PM acknowledge? Let’s also recall original INS Vikrant that served us well in 1971 war. Much reviled Krishna Menon played a key role in getting it from UK,” veteran Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

The aircraft carrier keel was laid in 2009 during UPA government and was launched during that period, he Congress said.

Named after her illustrious predecessor, which had played a vital role in the 1971 war, INS Vikrant is designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by the Cochin Shipyard, a public sector shipyard. With the commissioning of Vikrant, India will have two operational aircraft carriers, which will bolster the maritime security of the nation. READ MORE

Modi commissioned India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant here on Friday, that put India into a select league of countries with domestic capability to build such large war ships. The Prime Minister commissioned the carrier, built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore, at a function organised at the Cochin Shipyard Limited here.

“Today, India joins the countries that build such large aircraft carriers with indigenous technology. Today, INS Vikrant has filled India with new trust…On this historic occasion, I express gratitude to Indian Navy, all engineers, scientists & workers of Cochin Shipyard,” said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled the new naval ensign or the ‘Nishaan’ that is inspired by the great Maratha Emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The unveiling came alongside the commissioning of aircraft carrier Vikrant. For years, a red cross on a white background, with the national flag in the corner and the Ashok Stambha in the centre had been the flag of the Indian Navy.

While the new design was kept under wraps till Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said “this will a burial of our colonial past”. In a statement, the PMO said, “During the event, the Prime Minister will also unveil the new Naval Ensign (Nishaan), doing away with the colonial past and befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage.” READ MORE

“INS Vikrant is not a mere war machine but proof of India’s skill and talent. It is special, different,” Modi said and highlighted the indigenisation efforts behind the massive ship, including the steel that went into its making,” said Modi in his address.