INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier (IAC)

[nrj]

Sure the IAC-1 was laid down in "08" and will be launched shortly. Yet, how many years did it take from concept to design to the beginning of construction! Plus, the IAC-2 is a totally new design. That will be far larger and more complex. Being equipped with Catapults and Arresting Gear for Conventional Naval Aircraft. At this stage India hasn't even decided to use "Steam" or the new "EMALS" System. Then it has to decide if its going to purchase a foreign design or build its own??? Sorry, this talk about the IAC-2 starting construction right after the first IAC is far from fact. When India planned on building 2-3 IAC of the same class. That was indeed the plan. Yet, when the Indian Navy changed the direction of the second IAC. All that went out the window........so to speak!


Plus, recent comments by the Indian Chief of the Naval Staff (Adm. Nirmal Kumar Verma) clearly point to the IAC-2 being sometime off and not a current focus of the Indian Navy.

I would let the time respond to this discussion....

 

[plugwater]

Indian Aircraft Carrier construction on schedule: CSL

In the latest report of Cochin Shipyard Limited, it mentions that the prestigious IAC project is proceeding on schedule with the company completing a large portion of hull block fabrication and erection in the building dock during 2009-10. The company is presently constructing 15 commercial ships for various international and domestic owners along with the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy.

In Ship repair, over the years CSL has gained experience in undertaking high tech repair jobs on rigs, defence vessels and all types of commercial ships. 50 ships were repaired in the year 2009-10, major works among them being normal refit of INS 'VIRAAT', extended short refit of INS 'TARANGINI", conversion of Research vessel 'Sindhu Sankalp', Medium refit of INS "Nireekshak" and short refit of "INS Jyothi".

Amongst its new initiatives, Cochin Shipyard installed a bollard pull test facility upto 500 tonnes at Vizhinjam which was the first step towards geographical diversification. Presently facility of such high capacity is not available anywhere in India. The yard commissioned a Small Ship Division in the year 2009-10 for concurrent construction of small commercial ships during the pendency of the Aircraft Carrier construction. CSL is also looking for capacity expansion by way of Drydock / Shiplift for which project study is underway.

http://frontierindia.net/indian-aircraft-carrier-construction-on-schedule-csl

 

[Crusader53]

Indian Aircraft Carrier construction on schedule: CSL

In the latest report of Cochin Shipyard Limited, it mentions that the prestigious IAC project is proceeding on schedule with the company completing a large portion of hull block fabrication and erection in the building dock during 2009-10. The company is presently constructing 15 commercial ships for various international and domestic owners along with the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy.

In Ship repair, over the years CSL has gained experience in undertaking high tech repair jobs on rigs, defence vessels and all types of commercial ships. 50 ships were repaired in the year 2009-10, major works among them being normal refit of INS 'VIRAAT', extended short refit of INS 'TARANGINI", conversion of Research vessel 'Sindhu Sankalp', Medium refit of INS "Nireekshak" and short refit of "INS Jyothi".

Amongst its new initiatives, Cochin Shipyard installed a bollard pull test facility upto 500 tonnes at Vizhinjam which was the first step towards geographical diversification. Presently facility of such high capacity is not available anywhere in India. The yard commissioned a Small Ship Division in the year 2009-10 for concurrent construction of small commercial ships during the pendency of the Aircraft Carrier construction. CSL is also looking for capacity expansion by way of Drydock / Shiplift for which project study is underway.

http://frontierindia.net/indian-aircraft-carrier-construction-on-schedule-csl

Glad to hear it.........I just wish they would post some more pictures of its Construction (

 

[pavanvenkatesh]

Is EMALS operational in any carriers of the world? i thought they were still in development or testing phase

 

[Crusader53]

Is EMALS operational in any carriers of the world? i thought they were still in development or testing phase

EMALS Program is progressing well and is currently under going testing as we speak. The first components are set to be delivered to the USN for installation of the USS Gerald R. Ford in May of 2011.

 

[Crusader53]

Here's a look at the RN's CVF. Which, will be similar in size to India's IAC-2. Of course the latter will have Catapults and more than likely a Single Island.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nsxjWDl7Lk

 

[Crusader53]

CVF Cut Away

It's likely the IAC-2 will be very similar in size to the CVF's. Here's the latest cut away.......

 

[jatkshatriya]

well i guess indias next aircraft carrier should be a nuclear armed carrier

 

[Rahul92]

Large carriers not yet in service

Large aircraft carriers are a growth sector for naval shipbuilding. In a reverse of the gradual decline in operators following the second world war, a combination of recent naval lessons (for UK and France), regained pride (Russia) and new world powers (India, China) has led to a glut in new types.

Varyag, China
The Varyag (Chinese name unknown) is the sister-ship of the Kruznetsov. It was uncompleted at the collapse of the USSR and lay in Ukraine for several years before being sold to China. It was not fitted out and missing many key systems including the engines. After being towed to China it has sat in Dalian docks being refitted for several years. The pace of completion has been the source of much speculation with some people saying it's far from complete whilst others believing she will sail any day. But, with the necessary aircraft to operate from it still to be delivered (Su-33s from China ordered in 2007) China probably isn't in much of a hurry. Satellite image:

INS Vikramaditya, India
Although it has yet to be completed this carrier is worth comparing as it is rather unique. It is in fact a major rebuild of a Soviet Kiev class helicopter cruiser. Although the ship displaces over 40,000 tons it's heritage provides for a relatively narrow flight deck. Certain details of its fit are still unknown but it is expected to operate MiG-29K Fulcrum multi-role fighters.

Vikrant class, India
This is Indias indigenous carrier design although it was designed with the help of an Italian shipbuilder and shows a close resemblance to the Italian Cavour design. This is however no reason to knock it! Of similar size to the Vikramaditya, it is much better optimized for flight deck operations thanks to it's "clean sheet" approach.

Queen Elizabeth class, UK
The British CVF programme calls for the replacement of the three Illustrious class STOL carriers with two large fleet carriers. Uniquely for such large carriers these will be configured as a STOL platform but can be modified to a STOBAR or CTOL configuration.

Gerald R. Ford class, USA
The follow-on to the Nimitz class is the CVN-21 program. These are approximately the same as the Nimitz but feature and extensive modernization and deck rearrangement that moves the island (now with AEGIS phased array radars) further aft and reduces the deck-lifts from four to three.

Others not compared
Russia plans to build several more carriers and China is probably going to start building domestically designed types in the next few years. South Korea and Japan have also built new 'carriers' but these are too small for this comparison, being "STOL" carriers. The latest STOL carrier from Italy, Cavour, is extremely potent and intended to operate F-35s which will see the gap between "STOL" carriers and "fleet" carriers diminish. France may or may not purchase a second carrier, based on the British Queen Elizabeth type.

The most obvious difference compared to the "in service" types is that all carry only multi-role jets.

The fit of the Chinese Varyag is most controversial. All that is known is that 50 "Su-33" fighters have been ordered from Russia. Although the specification is unknown I'd suggest that these will almost certainly have more modern avionics that the older Russia machines, and almost certainly be multi-role. Many people speculated that China would field a twin engine carrier version of the J-10. This does not appear to have materialized and at any rate the twin engine "requirement" for carrier aircraft is clearly not universal. I've also added some L-15 advanced supersonic trainers to the air wing. These seem a natural and cheap solution and have been shown at defence shows with short rangeTL-10 anti-ship missiles hinting at a naval use. These would be potent in close-air-support and light strike, as well as emergency air-defence (certainly better than the Brazilian Skyhawks!!).

The Indian warships were slated for naval versions of the LCA combat aircraft but this too seems to have not materialized and an upgraded version of the Russian MiG-29K Fulcrum is being delivered. Although less capable than the latest flankers, these are multi-role and feature a thoroughly modern avionics package.

The British carriers will deploy a cross-service fleet of aircraft including both Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm; FAA) and RAF F-35B VTOL fighters which will use the ski-jump but land vertically as per the Harrier. Harrier GR-9s will also deploy in the early days of operations as F-35s are still being delivered. Unlike the other carriers the air wing is likely to have an amphibious support emphasis with Apache gunships and huge Chinook and EH-101 transports. Maximum F-35s would be 36 in normal operations but probably fewer on routine deployments (as shown).

The US carrier will carry F-35C fighters and probably still the relatively new F-18E/F Super-Hornet. Exact mix not clear. Possibly USMC F-35Bs may be carried, presumably using a catapult to launch(?) but landing vertically – this might pose operational challenges.

We can guess that the Varyag will not be fitted with the same sensors/combat system/weapons as the Kruznetsov. Although China is an operator of both the AK-630 and Kashtan CIWS I expect that the Chinese designed Type-730 is more probable, probably just 4. The VLS silos will probably be welded over and the space used to increase the deck or more likely just for storage because China does not operate any VLS type SAMs that are as short as the Klinok; HHQ-16 is probably about 6m long.

The weapons fit of the Vikramaditya has been the cause of some debate. Although there were reports that the Russian engineers could not find space for the relatively short Barak-I anti-missile missile favoured by the Indian's, recent photographs show that the rear AAA positions have been raised. This could be to house the vertical magazines of the Grisom missiles for the Kashtan CIWS but this would result in the CIWS being mounted very high and potentially representing a landing hazard. My guess is that the raised section is to accommodate the Barak-I SAM:

The Vikrant class will probably also carry Barak-I but probably more missiles and with three OTO-Melara 76mm guns for added protection (depending on the ammo used the 76mm guns can be regarded as anti-missile defences similar or arguably superior to a CIWS). Some reports indicate that the Vikrant class will have a similar weapons fit to the new Kolkata class air-defence destroyer, but the relatively large size of the Barak-II or Shtil-1 (SA-N-11/SA-17 "Grizzly") missiles (about 6m long) makes this unlikely IMO.


The Queen Elizabeth class is typically shown in official graphics with three Phalanx 20mm CIWS and 3 (or more?) 30mm crewed guns. It's going to be disappointing to many Royal navy fans that the ship isn't better defended, perhaps with Aster-15 (as per Charles De Gaulle) or CAAM (an advanced SAM with active radar guidance and approximately 20km range, similar in concept to the MICA-VL).

The US carrier will carry a substantially better defencive suite than the current Nimitz with the more capable ESSM missile in place of the Sea Sparrow (50km range vs about 15km, anti-missile capability etc).

 

[Rahul92]

but i can surely guarantee you that vikrant class are far better than vikramditya
the chinese are getting training from brazil for varyag how to operate a AC as it is new for them & they hav ordered su-33s

 

[jatkshatriya]

why isnt India going for a nuclear aircraft carrier....if the idea is to be a blue water navy and to project power..it definitely should have an expeditionary force equipped with a nuclear aircraft carrier, a nuclear attack submarine, escort frigettes and corvettes, and a naval assault infantry division ready 24*7 to lanch an attack on any shore inthe world

 

[EagleOne]

why isnt India going for a nuclear aircraft carrier....if the idea is to be a blue water navy and to project power..it definitely should have an expeditionary force equipped with a nuclear aircraft carrier, a nuclear attack submarine, escort frigettes and corvettes, and a naval assault infantry division ready 24*7 to lanch an attack on any shore inthe world

still we are in process of building a conventional aircraft carrier so it still takes time to make a nuclearaircraft carrier we are still need far more development for nuclear reactors for subs and carriers

 

[keshtopatel]

why isnt India going for a nuclear aircraft carrier....if the idea is to be a blue water navy and to project power..it definitely should have an expeditionary force equipped with a nuclear aircraft carrier, a nuclear attack submarine, escort frigettes and corvettes, and a naval assault infantry division ready 24*7 to lanch an attack on any shore inthe world

India has the "technical expertise and capability" to build nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and warships, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar has said.

"We have the technical expertise and capability to build nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and warships of global standards," Kakodkar said

I beleive in his words, he is an achiever, so therefore, I guess, its about time....Afterall after INS Vikrant (40,000 tonnes) hits the water, its gonna be INS Vishal 65,000 tonnes........There is lot in the store, so stay tuned!

 

[jatkshatriya]

still we are in process of building a conventional aircraft carrier so it still takes time to make a nuclearaircraft carrier we are still need far more development for nuclear reactors for subs and carriers

well but if India already has a project at which it has progressed good so far and may be in the next 5 years it will have its indigenous fully operational nuclear submarine,,,then logically india should be having a nuclear aircraft carrier in the next 5 to 6 years, if u can fit a nuke reactor on a sub which is far more complex, then for sure u can put a nuke reactor on a mamoth aircraft carrier.....India should stop beating by the bush..it has already lost a war to China, it has faced probably the most number of invasions than any other country or civilisation for that matter has faced,, its people have sufferred tremendous attrocities because of its weak leaders who have never had the foresight...india needs to be strong enuf to not only tackle but to win overwhelmingly even a two front war with both China and Pakistan simultaneously

 

[EagleOne]

well but if India already has a project at which it has progressed good ...........

we have took help of russia to built nuclear reactor for sub after barc failed to build one so we still need to develop and now we are buliding 2 more nuke sub inline so it willtake some more time to fit it to aircrft carrier we many expect a nuclear carrier after vishal...

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

barc never took russian help for building the nuclear reactor for arihant. after the land based model PHWR reactor was complete there was problem in miniaturisation of the reactor to fit inside the hull of the the submarine and hence russian expertise was sought.

 

[EagleOne]

barc never took russian help for building the nuclear reactor for arihant. after the land based model PHWR reactor was complete there was problem in miniaturisation of the reactor to fit inside the hull of the the submarine and hence russian expertise was sought.

read the links u will know

After BARC designs failed, India bought reactor designs from Russia

initial design of the miniaturized naval-version of the reactor developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had technical challenges, after which Russian help was sought to resolve the design glitches. .


The Indian Strategic Nuclear Submarine Project An Open Literature Analysis

 

[EagleOne]

While IAC-3 which will be launched by 2018 and to be deployed by 2025 will be replacement
carrier for INS Vikramaditya which will only have service life of 20 to 25
years when inducted by 2012 . Recent discussion with a serving naval officer has disclosed
that nuclear propulsion might be used to power the third aircraft carrier.

September 2010 Issue --- page 10 (magazine)

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

iac 3 should be a nuclear powered 100k carrier because china will make its 1st supercarrier by 2020.

 

[Tshering22]

While IAC-3 which will be launched by 2018 and to be deployed by 2025 will be replacement
carrier for INS Vikramaditya which will only have service life of 20 to 25
years when inducted by 2012 . Recent discussion with a serving naval officer has disclosed
that nuclear propulsion might be used to power the third aircraft carrier.

September 2010 Issue --- page 10 (magazine)

I think they mean IAC-2. The IAC 1 will come 3 years later, the IAC-2 will start only then and the third AC is already here in the name of Gorshkov. We have 3 areas of water interests: South, East &West. We get that covered. Why waste money on IAC-3? They could simply use that money to triple our Submarine fleet. We need at least 30 attack submarines diesel-electric and 5-8 nuclear SSBNs along with 3 carriers.. That is a force good enough to deter any enemy in the forseeable future.