Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

INS Vikramaditya (Image credits- Indian Navy) INS Vikramaditya is the flag ship of the Indian Navy. She was earlier known as Admiral Groshkov before she was inducted into the Indian Navy. Now she is the most powerful ship native to the Indian Ocean. The National Interest looks in detail the troubles that India had to face to get Aircraft Carrier from Russia which ultimately forced India to design it's own aircraft carriers. ( To read the entire article, click here .......)

INS Vikrant ( Image credits- India MOD) Source- The Diplomat Author- Ankit Panda Marking a symbolic milestone, India’s INS Vikrant, its first indigenously built aircraft carrier and the first of two planned Vikrant-class carriers, undocked at Cochin Shipyard. As of this week, the INS Vikrant, with a completed hull and internal structure, is free-floating and will go into static and dynamic trials soon. The vessel was officially launched in August 2013 when it completed the first phase of its construction. Its undocking marks the successful conclusion of its second phase of construction. The carrier, which first left its dry dock in December 2011, is expected to have fully completed construction by 2016 and to be commissioned in 2017. As Franz-Stefan Gady noted for The Diplomat some weeks ago, the Vikrant‘s launch was anticipating delays. The completion of phase two of construction was scheduled for late May — the undocking took place just two weeks off schedule. I

India's New Air Craft Carrier Vikrant  ( Image source- Wikimedia Commons / Credits- Indian Navy)) Source- The National Interest Author- Zachary Keck India is set to launch its first indigenous aircraft carrier later this month, according to local media reports. On Thursday The Hindu reported that India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, will be launched from Cochin Shipyard on May 28. “All major equipment has gone into the vessel, which has now acquired the shape of an aircraft carrier, with a finished hull. Barring a bit of ongoing work on the superstructure, structural work is all over and the internal compartments have all been welded in,” an official at shipyard was quoted as saying. The INS Vikrant will displace 40,000 tons and feature a short-take off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) system, rather than the catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) launch system used by current U.S. aircraft carriers. The ski-slope launc

CG of INS Vikrant  ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Author- Indian Navy) In continuation of our weekly series "Make In India", today we feature the INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier. Designed in India,  the ship will be the combat ships ever designed in India. Designed by the Indian Navy's Naval design Bureau, two ships are planned in the series. The first INS Vikrant will be a STOBAR configuration at over 40,000 tonnes with a compliment of Mig-29 sea borne combat aircrafts and also  Kamov Ka-31 helicopters. Later the LCA Navy will also join the ship. The second ship will be of a bigger design with a displacement of more than 65,000 tonnes and will feature CATOBAR design and will include AMCA navy and assorted platforms which may also include E-2 AEW Aircrafts. This ship may be nuclear powered. It is in design stages and production will start later this decade. It will probably be the first time America will be helping with the EMAILS launch system. These ships and t