New Delhi: Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, Vice Chief of the Navy, on Thursday said the induction of indigenously built aircraft carrier INS ‘Vikrant’ into service will help ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Ghormade said INS ‘Vikrant’ will be inducted into the Navy on September 3 at an event in Kochi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the event.
He said the induction of the aircraft carrier into service would be an “unforgettable” day as the vessel would significantly enhance the country’s overall maritime capabilities. Asked whether the Navy was working on building a second aircraft carrier, he said discussions were on it.
With this, India has joined the club of select countries including the USA, UK, Russia, China, and France which manufacture aircraft carriers above 40,000 tonnes, he said. The complete cabling of about two thousand five hundred kilometers long INS Vikrant has been done in India, which is a big achievement.
Vice Admiral SN Ghormade said Vikrant’s equipment has been made in 18 states and union territories. These include Ambala, Daman, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Kota, Pune, and New Delhi. Vice Admiral Ghormade said that Vikrant has two thousand two hundred coaches including separate accommodation for women officers and women Agniveer sailors.
Vice Admiral Ghormade said the induction of INS ‘Vikrant’ into the Navy would be a historic occasion and would also be a symbol of ‘national unity’ as its components came from several states and union territories.
The aircraft carrier, built at a cost of around Rs 20,000 crore, successfully completed the fourth and final phase of sea trials last month. With the creation of ‘Vikrant’, India has joined a select group of countries that have the capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.
