What makes INS Vikrant so deadly?
The induction of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-1) into the Indian Navy as INS Vikrant marks a watershed moment. The first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, will strengthen India’s position as a “Blue Water Navy” — a maritime force with global reach and the ability to operate in deep seas.
About INS Vikrant
This new ship built in India by Cochin Shipyard Limited is capable of travelling from India to Brazil in one trip. The flying deck is approximately 12,500 square metres in size. According to the Indian Navy, this equates to the size of ten Olympic-sized pools or two-and-a-half hockey fields.
The new ship stands 61.6 metres tall from keel to pole mast. This means it can reach a height of 14 floors. The onboard cabling is entirely made in India and spans 2,600 kilometres. PM Modi stated during his speech at the commissioning ceremony that the ship’s power can light up a small town.
With three automated galleys, approximately 16,000 chappatis, 6,000 idlis, and 4,800 meals can be prepared on a daily basis. The carrier, which was developed by the Indian Navy, DRDO, and SAIL, was built with warship-grade steel. According to the Indian Navy, the indigenous content is 76 per cent and includes 150 km of pipes, 2,000 valves, 2,500 km of electric cables, and nearly 23,000 tonnes of steel.
According to the Navy, approximately 2000 direct job opportunities were created on board the aircraft carrier. In addition, nearly 40,000 people were employed indirectly. The IAC-Vikrant Project involved more than 50 Indian manufacturers. Approximately 80-85 per cent of the project cost of approximately Rs 23,000 crore has been reinvested in the country’s economy.
What Makes It So Deadly?
INS Vikrant has 32 cells that work on what is called Verticle Launching System. It has eight missile cells, each with four missiles. The INS Vikrant has four Otobreda dual-purpose cannons that can be controlled remotely. These cannons have the ability to rotate 360 degrees and destroy enemy fighter jets, helicopters, and battleships.
Their muzzles are capable of firing at angles ranging from 15 to 85 degrees. They can fire 120 rounds per minute at a speed of 915 metres per second. Their range is approximately 16 to 20 kilometres. In addition, the ship is outfitted with AK 630 point defence system guns. The gun can only be fully operated by one person. It can rotate in all directions and fire in any direction at the rate of 4000 rounds per minute.
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