India’s Aircraft Carriers

IN NEWS:

• Navy expects that a twin engine made-in-India fighter jet to replace the MiG-29K fighters, used by it for carrier operations, will be ready by 2032.
• The new aircraft will be used by INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant eventually.

ABOUT INS VIKRAMADITYA:

• INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier from Russia which entered into service with the Indian Navy in 2013.
• Commissioned in 1987, the carrier served with the Soviet Navy and later with the Russian Navy before being decommissioned in 1996.
• It has an overall length of about 284 meters and over 1,600 personnel on board.
• The ship has the ability to carry over 30 aircraft comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters.
  
  

ABOUT INS VIKRANT:

• It is also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1).
• It is an aircraft carrier under construction by Cochin Shipyard in Kochi, Kerala for the Indian Navy.
• It is the first aircraft carrier to be built in India.
• It is 262 metres (860 ft) long and displaces about 40,000 metric tons (39,000 long tons).

PRELIMS QUESTION”

Q. Consider the following statements regarding INS Vikramaditya:

1. It is an indigenously build aircraft carrier of India.
2. It is built at the Cochin shipyard

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims question