INS Vishal (IAC- II) Aircraft Carrier

john70

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The Indian navy is likely to call an end to its tryst with ski-jump aircraft carriers, deciding that its next big vessel will be a flat-top with a catapult-launch system.


While India's first home-built carrier, known as the Vikrant, is to be a 44,000-ton short-takeoff-but-arrested-recovery (Stobar) carrier, the second ship—tentatively titled Vishal ("Immense")—is seen as a 65,000-ton flat-top with a steam-catapult system.

The Naval Design Bureau, which oversees design and implementation of all indigenous warship building efforts, is expected to freeze its requirements by year-end.

Indian Navy Freezes Flat-Top Configuration for INS Vishal

Charles_de_Gaulle :


The navy has been known to want to deploy heavier fighters from a carrier.

Still, the freeze on a flat-top catapult-launch design also dramatically changes the navy's future fighter requirement.

In 2009, the service invited information to support a purchase of aircraft for deck-based operations, which did not specify launch type but had been presumed to be Stobar. Several companies were asked for information: Russia's MiG and Sukhoi for the MiG-29K and Su-33, respectively; Dassault Aviation with the Rafale (noting that the Rafale could be modified for Stobar operations); Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; and two aircraft concepts—Saab's Sea Gripen and Eurofighter's Naval Typhoon.
Catapult - launch design would push Naval Typhoon Out

A catapult carrier could narrow the field to a competition involving a modified Su-33, the F/A-18, F-35C and Rafale. The Rafale—currently in final negotiations for the Indian air force's largest-ever fighter purchase, worth around $12 billion for 126 aircraft—has already pushed its case with the navy, underlining type commonality.

Officials at Eurofighter said they had heard about the navy's plans with the second aircraft carrier, and agreed that such a decision would all but rule out the Naval Typhoon from future navy contests. "The Typhoon can be modified for Catobar operations, but it is unlikely that the economies of such a modification will work out. And this is before we even talk numbers of aircraft," says a senior EADS executive in India.
Good chances for E-2 Hawkeye / V 22 Osprey:

A flat-top configuration also supports the navy's interest in fixed-wing airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft for operations off a carrier, and comes as good news for Northrop Grumman, which has spent the better part of the last decade pitching its E-2 Hawkeye to the Indian navy. The company, in fact, has also offered to help the navy with concept and integration of a steam catapult on the new carrier. Boeing is likewise expected to make its first presentations to the Indian navy later this year on the V-22 Osprey, both as a utility aircraft and a modified AEW platform.

Finding new shipyard in India for building it ???

But India's first flat-top is unlikely to see service before 2025. For starters, the Vikrant has experienced further delays, now totaling five years, and will not be commissioned until at least 2017. Apart from the attendant development and manufacturing difficulties that India's most ambitious shipbuilding effort brought with it, the program has been fraught with integration worries—including a recent road accident in which giant generators being transported to the shipbuilding site in south India were damaged and had to be returned to their manufacturer for inspection. d.
 
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Daredevil

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Indian Navy Freezes Flat-Top Configuration

Indian Navy Freezes Flat-Top Configuration

August 20, 2012

Asia-Pacific Staff New Delhi

The Indian navy is likely to call an end to its tryst with ski-jump aircraft carriers, deciding that its next big vessel will be a flat-top with a catapult-launch system.

While India's first home-built carrier, known as the Vikrant, is to be a 44,000-ton short-takeoff-but-arrested-recovery (Stobar) carrier, the second ship—tentatively titled Vishal ("Immense")—is seen as a 65,000-ton flat-top with a steam-catapult system. The Naval Design Bureau, which oversees design and implementation of all indigenous warship building efforts, is expected to freeze its requirements by year-end.

A commodore with the Naval Design Bureau says, "A decision has been taken to move away from conventional Stobar and short-takeoff-or-vertical-landing (Stovl) operations."

The navy's Sea Harrier fleet is closing out its service. The Indian carrier Vikramaditya—the former Russian carrier Admiral Gorshkov—and first indigenous carrier (Vikrant) will be transition vessels to Stobar operations. The next logical step is catapult-assisted takeoff-and-barrier-arrested recovery (Catobar), "which brings with it immense advantages in the mix of assets we can deploy on deck," says the commodore.

The navy has been known to want to deploy heavier fighters from a carrier. Still, the freeze on a flat-top catapult-launch design also dramatically changes the navy's future fighter requirement. In 2009, the service invited information to support a purchase of aircraft for deck-based operations, which did not specify launch type but had been presumed to be Stobar. Several companies were asked for information: Russia's MiG and Sukhoi for the MiG-29K and Su-33, respectively; Dassault Aviation with the Rafale (noting that the Rafale could be modified for Stobar operations); Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; and two aircraft concepts—Saab's Sea Gripen and Eurofighter's Naval Typhoon.

A catapult carrier could narrow the field to a competition involving a modified Su-33, the F/A-18, F-35C and Rafale. The Rafale—currently in final negotiations for the Indian air force's largest-ever fighter purchase, worth around $12 billion for 126 aircraft—has already pushed its case with the navy, underlining type commonality.

Officials at Eurofighter said they had heard about the navy's plans with the second aircraft carrier, and agreed that such a decision would all but rule out the Naval Typhoon from future navy contests. "The Typhoon can be modified for Catobar operations, but it is unlikely that the economies of such a modification will work out. And this is before we even talk numbers of aircraft," says a senior EADS executive in India.

A flat-top configuration also supports the navy's interest in fixed-wing airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft for operations off a carrier, and comes as good news for Northrop Grumman, which has spent the better part of the last decade pitching its E-2 Hawkeye to the Indian navy. The company, in fact, has also offered to help the navy with concept and integration of a steam catapult on the new carrier. Boeing is likewise expected to make its first presentations to the Indian navy later this year on the V-22 Osprey, both as a utility aircraft and a modified AEW platform.

But India's first flat-top is unlikely to see service before 2025. For starters, the Vikrant has experienced further delays, now totaling five years, and will not be commissioned until at least 2017. Apart from the attendant development and manufacturing difficulties that India's most ambitious shipbuilding effort brought with it, the program has been fraught with integration worries—including a recent road accident in which giant generators being transported to the shipbuilding site in south India were damaged and had to be returned to their manufacturer for inspection. Also, the state-owned Cochin Shipyard is not big enough to accept anything larger than India's first home-built Stobar carrier. So the navy will now need to identify a shipyard that can build a much bigger carrier.

The navy chief, Adm. Nirmal Verma, who will retire shortly, remains circumspect, saying: "It is too early to talk about the [second carrier]. There are other priorities right now, particularly the first carrier. Our designers are working toward the second."

India's existing carrier, the INS Viraat, which has more than 50 years in total service, is not likely to be stretched beyond 2014. Its fleet of Stovl Sea Harriers is already down to just nine aircraft. The Vikramaditya, currently in trials in the White Sea, is expected to join the service early next year and will have a squadron of MiG-29Ks; 16 aircraft have been delivered and 29 more will begin to arrive in three months. Both ships will also operate variants of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft-Navy, though it remains to be seen if the Mk. 1 version of the fighter proves safe and powerful enough for deck-based operations.
 

p2prada

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Re: Indian Navy Freezes Flat-Top Configuration

So, the Vishal is yet to be designed and a shipyard is yet to be identified. This is going to take time for sure. It will take at least a decade to induct an operational carrier after both are done.

Without a decent number of support ships like Destroyers, SSNs and Frigates, a CBG is not easy to create.
 

agentperry

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well i hope they know the meaning of freezing. they shouldnt change it now.
moreover the shipyards should be made or upgraded to make upto 75000 ton ships just to be better prepared in future
 

bengalraider

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well i hope they know the meaning of freezing. they shouldnt change it now.
moreover the shipyards should be made or upgraded to make upto 75000 ton ships just to be better prepared in future
Pipavav should already have the capacity to build a 75k tonne carrier as they are already building VLCC's
 
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sob

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Also the recent tie up with the French shipbuilder DCNS, should help Pipav build larger ships for the IN.
 

VIP

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Also the recent tie up with the French shipbuilder DCNS, should help Pipav build larger ships for the IN.
"¨"¨"©Pipavav has very large area and Vishal can only be made there.After hearing such internal sources' words about iac-1, pipavav owners upgraded the shipyard and made it capable to do anything but you can see how it has been dumped for iac-1.There's no technical reason to shift the plan to kochi as it's too small for vikrant, pipavav is ideal place.Only political reason is suspected.Now I guess if this project is gonna be delayed and not awarded to pipavav than god bless India.Politics should be remained out of such security matters.
 

LurkerBaba

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India is in the process of deciding whether its second indigenous aircraft carrier will be equipped with catapults.

The vessel, referred to within New Delhi naval circles as IAC 2 (indigenous aircraft carrier 2), will follow IAC 1, which is now being built in Kochi shipyard.

Through the use of catapults, IAC 2 would be able to operate larger, more powerful aircraft, such as the Dassault Rafale - the apparent winner of the Indian air force's medium multirole combat aircraft requirement - or the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Catapults would reduce the deck space required for launching aircraft, while allowing them to carry more fuel and heavier payloads. Ramp-assisted operations require long take-off runs, and involve fighters burning considerable fuel just to get airborne.

The addition of catapults would also allow IAC 2 to operate fixed-wing airborne early warning and control system and battle management aircraft, such as Northrop Grumman's E-2D Hawkeye, providing the fleet with far greater situational awareness than helicopter-borne surveillance equipment.

India nears catapult decision for second indigenous carrier
 

bengalraider

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I had this wet dream of seeing a truly massive Indian CBG in the IOR , it had

An IAC in the range of 85.000-100,000 tonnes with an air component consisting of 40 Rafale, 40 LCA-N and 10 F/A-18 Growlers :D it also had 4 hawkeye analogues, 20 UCAV's and assorted whirlybirds.
She was accompanied by 2 dedicated Air Defense CG's carrying upto 80SAMs a piece, around 50 BARAK and another 30 S-300FM Fort-M
another 4 Dedicated Heavy Hitters carrying 12 Nirbhay's and 16 BRAHMOS-LR(With a 600km range) a piece
6 Multi Role FFG's carrying a Mix of BRAHMOS-LR/NIRBHAY
two dedicated fleet tankers at 30,000 tonnes a piece(only the CVN was nuclear)
one submarine tender vessel
This fleet was accompanied by two Indigenous SSN's keeping a lookout for undersea threats.

That was one kickass dream wasn't it? now i just hope our politicos get their act in order so it can become reality.
 
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bengalraider

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On a serious note i believ it would be most prudent to have the hull of IAC-2 to be built at PIPAVAV and then tow it to Cochin for the internal Fitment work
 

Payeng

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I dont see any official confirmation that the next AC would be Christened as VISHAL.
 

Yusuf

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I had this wet dream of seeing a truly massive Indian CBG in the IOR , it had

An IAC in the range of 85.000-100,000 tonnes with an air component consisting of 40 Rafale, 40 LCA-N and 10 F/A-18 Growlers :D it also had 4 hawkeye analogues, 20 UCAV's and assorted whirlybirds.
She was accompanied by 2 dedicated Air Defense CG's carrying upto 80SAMs a piece, around 50 BARAK and another 30 S-300FM Fort-M
another 4 Dedicated Heavy Hitters carrying 12 Nirbhay's and 16 BRAHMOS-LR(With a 600km range) a piece
6 Multi Role FFG's carrying a Mix of BRAHMOS-LR/NIRBHAY
two dedicated fleet tankers at 30,000 tonnes a piece(only the CVN was nuclear)
one submarine tender vessel
This fleet was accompanied by two Indigenous SSN's keeping a lookout for undersea threats.

That was one kickass dream wasn't it? now i just hope our politicos get their act in order so it can become reality.
Who pinched you?
 

Crusader53

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We really need to quit talking about Mig-29K's, Rafales, Su-33's, N-LCA's, etc. When we talk about the IAC-2. As all of the aforementioned will be obsolete by time the latter enters service. So, we mite as well start taking about future AirWings. As the world will be full of F-22's, F-35's, PAK-FA's, J-20's, and J-31's. (maybe more)
 

Sam2012

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INS Vishal , i think Indian Navy should prefer Rafale ( Due to IAF MMRCA , common platform will reduce maintainance cost) , NLCA, Mig-29 K more

in 5G category if things go well then NFGFA

IN should not even consider F-35 because u can never trust them , you never know when they will slap sanctions & more over a new platform will result in cost escalation
 

Crusader53

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You cannot quit talking about something like Rafale, MIG-29K, NLCA etc coz they have to come before any matured 5th gen take place that is again a long way..


The future is coming fast and India must be prepared. While many are taking about the Mig-29K, N-LCA, and even Rafale. China is developing Stealthy 5th Generation Naval Fighter like the J-31.
 

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