INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier (IAC)

[Payeng]

Any more on future plans for the IAC-2???

yes..

Eye on future, India mulls options for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier | idrw.org

 

[sayareakd]

'Designing aircraft carrier Vikarant was complex, challenging' | idrw.org

SOURCE: PTI

Ahead of the launch of its first indigenous aircraft carrier at Kochi on August 12, Directorate of Naval Design today termed it as one of its most "complex and challenging" works which would be considered as a key success in Indian Navy's indigenisation programme.

Director General, Naval Design, Rear Admiral AK Saxena said the 37,500 tonne carrier's design and capacity went through many changes and also suffered setbacks, caused by fund constraint, before "Mig 29K came on the horizon", prompting the directorate to build a carrier big and efficient enough to handle it.

"It took us seven to eight years to design it," he said, adding it would have over 1400-member crew.

Defence Minister A K Antony's wife Elizabeth Antony will launch the carrier, to be named Vikrant, capable of handling 30-odd fighter aircraft.

The warship would be able to join duty in 2018. Its launch would catapult India to a select group of four countries capable of manufacturing and operating a 40,000 tonne carrier.

is'nt ATV most complex challange we ever faced. It is still secret today.

 

[TrueSpirit]

Hmm... I was expecting the aircraft-lifts to be larger; at least they're deck-edge. Assuming the models are accurate, looks like the Rafale-M/F-35B dreamers will be disappointed again.

Was Rafale-M even a distant possibility with IAC-1 which leverages STOBAR ( ski-jump like INS VIkramaditya, it is. right ? ) instead of CATOBAR that Charles De Gaulle uses...

IAC-2 could be with CATOBAR, so all options still open...

Not sure even decision-makers in IN are still interested VTOL F-35....

 

[rvjpheonix]

@Decklander sir, what is the relevance of sea harriers today? In case of any eventuality today will the viraat be able to hold its own against pakistani aircraft like f 16's?

 

[Decklander]

@Decklander sir, what is the relevance of sea harriers today? In case of any eventuality today will the viraat be able to hold its own against pakistani aircraft like f 16's?

SH was more of a fleet defence aircraft. I won't give it much of a chance against F-16 blk 50 onwards but below that, It can hold out against any of F-16 variants.

 

[LalTopi]

SH was more of a fleet defence aircraft. I won't give it much of a chance against F-16 blk 50 onwards but below that, It can hold out against any of F-16 variants.

Americans still seem keen on Harriers for special operations. When the UK wanted to get rid of theirs, India declined but the Americans snapped them up.

 

[Decklander]

Americans still seem keen on Harriers for special operations. When the UK wanted to get rid of theirs, India declined but the Americans snapped them up.

USMC operates them from their helicopter carriers and this is the best ac for those ships. They use it more as a tactical bomber.

 

[ersakthivel]

Broadsword

"(The DRDO's) research project worth about Rs 14.2 crore has now led to the supply of steel worth about Rs 550 crore," points out Dr G Malkondaiah, former DMRL Director who oversaw this project closely.

 

[TrueSpirit]

SH was more of a fleet defence aircraft. I won't give it much of a chance against F-16 blk 50 onwards but below that, It can hold out against any of F-16 variants.

Sir, fleet-defence against what ?

Land-based threats, airborne threats or sea-based/sub-surface combatants ? As of now, it primarily does CAP or anti-shipping ?

Basically, is it used in more in A-A config payload or A-G/A-S config payload ?

 

[Decklander]

Sir, fleet-defence against what ?

Land-based threats, airborne threats or sea-based/sub-surface combatants ? As of now, it primarily does CAP or anti-shipping ?

Basically, is it used in more in A-A config payload or A-G/A-S config payload ?

The Harrier was built to operate from positions close to the battlefield during cold war era. The assumption was that most bases will be put out of action by using missiles and so only V/STOL/STOL fighters will be usefull. It was for this reason that roads were developed which cud act as airstrips. The second use was that in case of a sudden war in europe, the small carriers like Illustrious will be able to delay the breakout of russian northern fleet into the atlantic and ensure the arrival of bigger carriers from USA. Keeping these things in mind Two variants of Harrier were developed-The GR and Sea Harrier. The SH was basically designed to take on the high flying bombers of USSR and so its radar was tuned for look up-shoot up mode. The Bluefox radar had very poor range while looking down and excellent range while looking up. Our standard interception technique was to fly at 500 feet and use the radar in look up mode.
One very big problem with SH was that if you have unbalanced loads on wings, you were reqd to dump them before landing otherwise it will be impossible to land the ac. We used to carry a seaeagle missile on one wing and a 1000 pounder bomb on the other and both used to be released together. But the imbalance caused by magic missile was within the limits of SH so we carried mostly AA armament. We used SeaKings in ASM role as they had better range with two Seaeagle missiles and did not suffer the problems of SH plus they cud be launched from advance pickets positioned good about 70nm ahead of mainbody giving that much more range advantage.
SH was more used for strafing runs using rockets etc but was primarily restricted to Fleet air defence.

 

[Twinblade]

Starting to resemble a ship now.

Air Defence Ship launch will be a big morale booster: Cochin Shipyard Limited CMD
T Ramavarman, TNN | Aug 9, 2013, 06.12 AM IST

KOCHI: Waves of excitement lap the gates of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) as the shipyard has initiated countdown for a historic mission - float-out of the country's Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) aka the Air Defence Ship (ADS). Apart from helping India enter an elite league of six countries to indigenously build an aircraft carrier, the ADS will give the CSL a moment to cheer as it becomes the only shipyard in the country (and perhaps in the world) with proven expertise in defence and commercial ship building. This thrill finds echo in the words of CSL's chairman and managing director Commodore K Subramaniam. Excerpts from a free-wheeling interview he gave the TOI:

Your reflections on phase-1 of project IAC?

CMD: Warships are much more difficult to build. The requirements are extremely stringent. Basically warships are designed to go into the harm's way, to sustain battle damage. They must be able to perform even after taking some punishment.

What gave you the confidence to undertake the project?

CMD: CSL started shipbuilding in 1976, we launched the first ship Rani Padmini in 1980. The 80-odd vessels we have made so far, include the largest containers (two Aframax tankers built for SCI, each of 93,000 tonnes dwt), as well some of best platform supply vessels (PSVs) across the globe. But we got the order only because CSL dock could accommodate an aircraft carrier. About 16,000 tonne of steel has been erected in the dry dock in four years, which is a record.

About the next phase?

CMD: The next immediate work is putting the angle deck and sponsons (projections beyond the flight deck), and in 10 months we will finish that. Then we have to complete the entire hull structure, lay all the pipelines, cabling, ventilation trunkings, install all the motors, and switchboards, all these will go on. We also have to do the accommodation as an aircraft carrier is like a floating mini city housing 2,500 people. The next phase we will be completed by 2016.

But the Navy has set a 2018-deadline for you?

CMD: All countries making aircraft carrier take nine to 12 years, between keel laying and delivery. We laid the keel of this in February 2009, and if you are able to finish by 2018, you are actually on par with the Russians, better than the French, and as good as the British. 2018 is challenging deadline, but we will strive to stick to it.

So you are confident to bid for second aircraft carrier?

CMD: Most certainly. We should be the natural choice. Everybody will benefit, the Navy, the country and the shipyard. Anybody else will have to go through this learning cycle again. We are now looking at defence orders till commercial ship building picks up. We have responded to 20-dd tenders of navy, but there is tough competition among Indian shipyards.

But defence minister is of the view that nomination route may not work?

CMD: All the government agencies have to follow the tendering procedure. Private shipyards have lobbied with the ministry asserting that they should not be treated as untouchables (for government tenders). They are arguing that the public sector shipyards should not be given concessions as they will be deprived of level playing fields.

Are you intending to make forays into building of coastal ships?

CMD: We will have to be clear, we are not into boats, we are looking at high-end, high value jobs where our highly skilled manpower can be deployed.

How is your ship repair work progressing?

CMD: Our capacity is to generate a turnover of about Rs 250 crore last year we did even better, we did about Rs 280 crore. We feel ship repair has lot of potentials.

How is your ship building order book placed?

CMD: Right now we have got 25 vessels, including the IAC, 20 fast patrolling vessels (FPVs), worth about Rs 1,500 crore. There is an order for three vessels for a Norwegian owner, they will be Liberian flagged vessels. We also have an order for a vessel for Director General of Light Houses and Light Ships. Altogether these orders are worth Rs 2,400 crore, other than the aircraft carrier.

Any update on CSL's IPO move?

CMD: We need to get government approval. We have started the process. We will need about Rs 500 crore for developing the ship repair facility. We are also looking at a dry dock for rig repair, roughly it will cost about Rs 1,100 crore. I would prefer the equity route for this project as well.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-to-launch-first-indigenous-aircraft-carrier-INS-Vikrant/articleshow/21720713.cms

 

[Shaitan]

IAC looking amazing. Thanks TB for finding it.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Towers were ready long back, Hope to see placed over the hull ..

 

[Decklander]

The construction of ship never stopped even when it was floated out last time. This ship is being constructed in a modular manner and the construction of cabins and other stuff continued thruout. You will find that with 3 shifts working, they will complete this ship very very fast.

 

[rohit b3]

The construction of ship never stopped even when it was floated out last time. This ship is being constructed in a modular manner and the construction of cabins and other stuff continued thruout. You will find that with 3 shifts working, they will complete this ship very very fast.

Can CSL also incorporate modular construction. I thought only MDL and GRSE were the first 2 Indian shipyards to get that ability.

Also isnt in modular construction, most electrical and other fittings are completed in each block itself before the blocks are brought together? This generally cuts down the time between the "Launch" and "Commissioning'?

 

[Shaitan]

Can CSL also incorporate modular construction. I thought only MDL and GRSE were the first 2 Indian shipyards to get that ability.

Also isnt in modular construction, most electrical and other fittings are completed in each block itself before the blocks are brought together? This generally cuts down the time between the "Launch" and "Commissioning'?

CSL is already ahead of GRSE and MDL when it comes to modular construction. MDL and GRSE only recently acquired the Goliath crane.

 

[Decklander]

Can CSL also incorporate modular construction. I thought only MDL and GRSE were the first 2 Indian shipyards to get that ability.

Also isnt in modular construction, most electrical and other fittings are completed in each block itself before the blocks are brought together? This generally cuts down the time between the "Launch" and "Commissioning'?

CSL had this capability for long. They were chosen for IAC-1 only bcoz of this very reason. regarding electrical fittings, I wish to inform you all that this system of busbars started from ships construction and than found way into computers. In modular construction we just plug in the portion into the ships main suppy line. These supply cables run the entire length of ship on each deck.

 

[Shaitan]

 

[natarajan]

looking like initial vikramadithya

 

[Ganesh2691]