INS Viraat visits Oman; to foister strategic ties

[Singh]

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MUSCAT — India's only aircraft carrier, the Indian Naval Ship Viraat, sailed into Port Sultan Qaboos here yesterday on its maiden port call — a visit that attested to the strategic nature of relations between the two friendly countries, a top naval official said.
Captain Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Commanding Officer of INS Viraat, said the two-day port visit engendered "deep pride and honour" in the roughly 1,000-strong complement of officers and sailors on board the Indian Navy's flagship.

"It is with a deep sense of honour and privilege that we have come here to Muscat," Capt Singh told journalists on the aircraft deck of INS Viraat, flanked by his senior colleagues as well as pilots of the impressive array of fighter aircraft and helicopters on board the carrier. "We have a great bilateral relationship with the Sultanate of Oman. For this very reason, this ship is here," he added.
INS Viraat is accompanied by the stealth frigate INS Talwar and indigenously built guided missile frigate INS Ganga on its historic visit to the Sultanate. During the two days at berth, all three ships will take on supplies of
fuel and rations before the trio return to the Indian Ocean as part of their current deployment.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987, INS Viraat operates the short-take-off fighter aircraft Sea Harriers with vertical landing capability, and the antisubmarine helicopter Sea King 42B and Chetak helicopters for search 1340298515026827700 and rescue purposes.

For self-defence, the carrier is equipped with an anti-missile defence system and long-range surveillance system integrated with a Maritime Domain Awareness network with other fleet ships and shore headquarters. These surveillance systems and sensors of the integral air assets and other screen ships of the formation enable INS Viraat to maintain an enhanced surveillance bubble around the force.

The Sea Harrier fighters are equipped with anti-shipping missiles (AShM), long-range beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (AAM), bombs and rockets. The Sea King helicopters are equipped with long-range radar, ESM suite, dunking Sonar and sonobuoys. Armaments carried by this helicopter include anti-submarine torpedoes, depth charges and anti-shipping missiles (AShM).

The ship is manned by approximately 140 officers and 1400 sailors and has facilities and amenities to cater for requirements of all personnel onboard.

Accompanying INS Viraat are frigates INS Talwar and INS Ganga of the Carrier Task Group. While Ganga has been indigenously built, Talwar was built in Russia according to Indian design requirements. Both Talwar and Ganga are manned by around 30 officers and 300 sailors each.

INS Talwar is fitted with long-range air survelliance radar and credible sonar for detection of submarines. INS Talwar carries one Air Early Warning (AEW) helicopter Kamov 31 as a force multiplier against air threats. The arsenal on board Talwar include long-range anti-shipping hypersonic cruise missiles, medium-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, medium-range gun, close-in weapon system, anti-submarine rockets and torpedoes. Talwar is being commanded 1340298530016829200 by Captain S K Chauhan.

INS Ganga is armed with guided missiles, medium-range gun, anti-missile defence SAM system, close-in weapon system, anti-submarine torpedoes and a state-of-the-art towed array sonar. Ganga has been designed to carry two Sea King 42B anti-submarine helicopters. The frigate is commanded by Captain B R Prakash.

Underscoring the friendly nature of the visit, INS Viraat will be open to the general public (Omanis and Indian nationals only) from 10 am to 4 pm today. Visitors are required to carry proof of identity when they arrive at the Main Gate of Port Sultan Qaboos. Shuttle buses will be available to ferry the visitors from the Jibroo yard to the dock where the carrier is at berth.

'INS Viraat visit attests to strong Oman-India ties' | Oman Observer

 

[Ganesh2691]

INS Viraat visit attests to strong Oman-India ties'

INS Viraat visit attests to strong Oman-India ties'


India's only aircraft carrier, the Indian Naval Ship Viraat, sailed into Port Sultan Qaboos here yesterday on its maiden port call — a visit that attested to the strategic nature of relations between the two friendly countries, a top naval official said.
Captain Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Commanding Officer of INS Viraat, said the two-day port visit engendered "deep pride and honour" in the roughly 1,000-strong complement of officers and sailors on board the Indian Navy's flagship.
"It is with a deep sense of honour and privilege that we have come here to Muscat," Capt Singh told journalists on the aircraft deck of INS Viraat, flanked by his senior colleagues as well as pilots of the impressive array of fighter aircraft and helicopters on board the carrier. "We have a great bilateral relationship with the Sultanate of Oman. For this very reason, this ship is here," he added.
INS Viraat is accompanied by the stealth frigate INS Talwar and indigenously built guided missile frigate INS Ganga on its historic visit to the Sultanate. During the two days at berth, all three ships will take on supplies of fuel and rations before the trio return to the Indian Ocean as part of their current deployment.Commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987, INS Viraat operates the short-take-off fighter aircraft Sea Harriers with vertical landing capability, and the antisubmarine

helicopter Sea King 42B and Chetak helicopters for search and rescue purposes.
For self-defence, the carrier is equipped with an anti-missile defence system and long-range surveillance system integrated with a Maritime Domain Awareness network with other fleet ships and shore headquarters. These surveillance systems and sensors of the integral air assets and other screen ships of the formation enable INS Viraat to maintain an enhanced surveillance bubble around the force.
The Sea Harrier fighters are equipped with anti-shipping missiles (AShM), long-range beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (AAM), bombs and rockets. The Sea King helicopters are equipped with long-range radar, ESM suite, dunking Sonar and sonobuoys. Armaments carried by this helicopter include anti-submarine torpedoes, depth charges and anti-shipping missiles (AShM).
The ship is manned by approximately 140 officers and 1400 sailors and has facilities and amenities to cater for requirements of all personnel onboard.
Accompanying INS Viraat are frigates INS Talwar and INS Ganga of the Carrier Task Group. While Ganga has been indigenously built, Talwar was built in Russia according to Indian design requirements. Both Talwar and Ganga are manned by around 30 officers and 300 sailors each.
INS Talwar is fitted with long-range air survelliance radar and credible sonar for detection of submarines. INS Talwar carries one Air Early Warning (AEW) helicopter Kamov 31 as a force multiplier against air threats. The arsenal on board Talwar include long-range anti-shipping hypersonic cruise missiles, medium-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, medium-range gun, close-in weapon system, anti-submarine rockets and torpedoes. Talwar is being commanded by Captain S K Chauhan.
INS Ganga is armed with guided missiles, medium-range gun, anti-missile defence SAM system, close-in weapon system, anti-submarine torpedoes and a state-of-the-art towed array sonar. Ganga has been designed to carry two Sea King 42B anti-submarine helicopters. The frigate is commanded by Captain B R Prakash.
Underscoring the friendly nature of the visit, INS Viraat will be open to the general public (Omanis and Indian nationals only) from 10 am to 4 pm today. Visitors are required to carry proof of identity when they arrive at the Main Gate of Port Sultan Qaboos. Shuttle buses will be available to ferry the visitors from the Jibroo yard to the dock where the carrier is at berth.

'INS Viraat visit attests to strong Oman-India ties' | idrw.org

 

[Ray]

India always had very close relations with Oman.

 

[indian_sukhoi]

care to share if anyone found any pictures

 

[ejazr]

The Times of Oman: Thousands brave heat, long queues to board 'INS Viraat'

Muscat: Braving the scorching sun and serpentine queues, curious visitors waited for hours at Port Sultan Qaboos yesterday to get an opportunity to board INS Viraat, the pride of Indian Navy and India's only aircraft carrier.

The maiden port call of INS Viraat, which docked at Port Sultan Qaboos on Thursday, shows the growing strategic relations between India and Oman.
The aircraft carrier's two-day port visit generated "great pride and enthusiasm- in the roughly 1,000-strong group of officers and sailors on board.

Speaking to the media, Captain Ajendra Bahadur Singh, commanding officer of INS Viraat, said that the visit of the ship signifies close and strategic partnership between the two countries.

"We have a great bilateral relationship with the Sultanate of Oman. The ship is here for this very reason. We are out on a deployment mission. We have come here to take some fuel and rations. We are currently deployed in the Indian Ocean,- Captain Singh said. "It is with deep sense of honour and privilege that we have come here. Therefore, it is a great feeling to be here,- he added.

INS Viraat is also one of the longest serving aircraft carriers in the history of naval operations anywhere in the world, the captain said, adding that India's first indigenous aircraft carrier is also under-construction in Kochi. According to
reports, the Indian Navy is expected to operate three aircraft carriers by 2015.

"It is a rare experience. I have never boarded a warship. It happens only once in a lifetime. Thanks to the Indian Navy, embassy and port officials for giving us an opportunity to board this aircraft carrier,- Lateesh, an expat, and his friends told Times of Oman. Lateesh was among a group of 50 friends who came to see this formidable ship.

"Even though it was too hot and the trip was hectic, we couldn't hold our anxiety to miss this rare opportunity. We stood in the queue for more than two hours to board the bus to the ship. Our kids are very happy. If we had missed this chance, we would have never got another opportunity to board an aircraft carrier,- Mohammed Iqbal and his family said.

Meanwhile, a few visitors said they were not satisfied with the arrangements made by the officials for the visit to the ship.

"Seeing the warship is a rare opportunity. But the arrangements made were not up to the mark. There was complete chaos at the entry point and even on board. There was a lot of confusion everywhere,- Akilesh said.

Mrs. Venkitesh and her family too were also not satisfied with the organisers.

"There were no shades, not even for kids. They had to stand for hours in the queue. By the time we reached on board, we were all exhausted.

The organisers could have done it in a better way,- Mrs Venkitesh said.
About 24,000 persons reportedly availed themselves of the opportunity to board the Indian naval ships.

Earlier known as HMS Hermes, INS Viraat was acquired by the Indian Navy in 1987 after completing 28 years of service under the Union Jack and having participated in the Falklands Campaign of the Royal Navy.

The warship now carries five aircraft on board and can carry up to 12 aircraft. Sea Harriers with short-take-off and vertical landing capability are stationed on the ship.

Even anti-submarine helicopter Sea King 42B and search and rescue choppers Chetak helicopters also operate from the ship. The carrier is equipped with anti-missile defence system and long-range surveillance system for self -defence.

In addition, the Sea Harrier fighters, equipped with anti-shipping missiles (AShM), long-range beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (AAM), bombs and rockets add more teeth to its capabilities.