The ship with a displacement of 42,800 tonnes was designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a public sector shipyard under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterway. INS Vikrant adorned the new ensign with effect from its commissioning. Vidhyadhar Harke read the commissioning warrant and the nishaan was hoisted as the national anthem was played followed by the breaking of the commissioning pendent. “If the goals are distant, the journeys are long, the ocean and the challenges are endless – then India’s answer is Vikrant.”Ĭommanding Officer Capt. Modi said it is not just a warship but a testament to the hard work, talent, influence and commitment of India in the 21st century. Terming INS Vikrant as huge, the ceremony massive, vast, distinguished and also very special, Mr. Envoys and Defence Attaches of a few countries were also present at the ceremony including Australian High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell, British High Commissioner Alex Ellis and Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov. Modi speaking at the formal commissioning ceremony, which saw the presence of several naval veterans who commanded and served on the erstwhile Vikrant.

India has taken a step towards being a developed country by being part of the league,” Mr. “So far, such aircraft carriers were only made by developed countries. Once Vikrant becomes fully operational, the Indian Navy will once again be able to deploy two full-fledged carrier groups significantly expanding its footprint across the Indo-Pacific.Īlso Read | Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils Indian Navy’s new ensign From 2013 to 2017, the Navy had fielded two aircraft carriers, the erstwhile Viraat acquired from U.K and INS Vikramaditya from Russia which is currently in service. The ship is christened after India’s first aircraft carrier Vikrant, which played a vital role in the 1971 war. “Vikrant is a unique reflection of India becoming self-reliant,” he said. “In the past, security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region and the Indian Ocean have long been ignored, but today this area is a major defence priority of the country for us and we are working in every direction, from increasing the budget for the Navy to increasing its capability,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, as the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier and the most complex warship ever built, INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Indian Navy.

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