The Indian Navy’s first locally built aircraft carrier (IAC), Vikrant, has set sail to start its second sea trials in the south-east Arabian Sea.
The development was confirmed by Indian Navy spokesperson in a Twitter post, with the vessel heading out on 24 October.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The aircraft carrier completed its first round of sea trials in August.
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), which is constructing the IAC Vikrant, completed the basin trials for the carrier in November last year.
Basin trials were executed to test the propulsion, transmission, and shafting systems.
The vessel has been designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND).
With a displacement capacity of 40,000t, the 262m-long and 62m-wide carrier is claimed to be the largest ship to be built at the Cochin Shipyard.
It has more than 2,300 compartments and is designed to accommodate around 1,700 people, with separate spaces for female officers.
IAC Vikrant is capable of accommodating MiG 29K fighter jets, as well as Kamov-31 and MH-60R multi-role helicopters.
The Indian Navy is expected to take delivery of Vikrant in August next year.
IAC is part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The initiatives are aimed at making India self-reliant and increasing the country’s domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.
