INS Vikrant Reflects India’s Strength And Spirit, Says PM Modi During Diwali Celebration At Sea

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked this year’s Diwali aboard an Indian Navy vessel, one with which he has maintained a close connection over the past three years.

He had formally commissioned the nation’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, at Cochin Shipyard Limited on 2 September 2022.

The commissioning of Vikrant symbolised India’s growing strength in indigenous manufacturing and represented a major stride towards the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

At the same 2022 ceremony, Prime Minister Modi also unveiled the Navy’s new ensign, or Nishaan, replacing the colonial-era design with one inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Recalling the event on Monday, the Prime Minister said, “I remember when INS Vikrant was being handed over to the nation, I had said that Vikrant is vast, immense, and magnificent.”

The remark echoed his earlier statement from 2022, in which he asserted, “Vikrant is not just a warship. This is a testament to the hard work, talent, influence and commitment of India in the 21st century.”

Reaffirming his message, he added, “The day India received the Swadeshi INS Vikrant, our Indian Navy discarded a major symbol of colonial subjugation. Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, our Navy adopted a new flag.”

The commissioning of Vikrant placed India among a select group of nations with the capability to design and construct their own aircraft carriers.

Engineering Excellence and Capabilities

Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Vikrant represents a milestone in India’s maritime history.

Equipped with advanced automation systems, Vikrant is the largest ship ever built in India.

It measures 262.5 metres in length and 61.6 metres in width, can reach speeds of up to 28 knots, and includes about 2,200 compartments to accommodate around 1,600 crew members.

The carrier can operate up to 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 and MH-60R helicopters, and indigenously developed aircraft such as the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Navy variant.

Using the Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system, Vikrant features a ski-jump for aircraft launches and arrestor wires for their recovery.

Demonstrating India’s air power, MiG-29 fighters successfully took off and landed on the short deck, both by day and night.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Witnessed an awe-inspiring Air Power Demo on INS Vikrant, showcasing precision and prowess. The take-off and landing of MiG-29 fighters on a short runway, both in daylight and in the dark night, was a breathtaking display of skill, discipline and technological excellence.”

The air display also featured helicopters including the Chetak, MH-60 ‘Romeo’, and Kamov-31, as well as fixed-wing aircraft such as the Dornier and P8I, alongside MiG-29K fighter jets in a striking fly-past.

The naval showcase extended across the western fleet, with warships including aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, destroyers INS Surat, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai, INS Imphal, INS Kolkata; frigates INS Tushil, INS Tabar, INS Teg, and INS Betwa; and fleet tankers INS Deepak and INS Aditya participating in the exercise.