VIKRANT CLASS SUPERCARRIER

INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier in service with the Indian Navy. The carrier is India's fourth carrier and the first to be built domestically. It was constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). The name Vikrant is a tribute to India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (1961). Vikrant means "courageous" in Sanskrit. The motto of the ship, "I defeat those who dare to challenge me" (English). It is currently one of two active aircraft carriers in the Indian Navy, the other being the flagship INS Vikramaditya.

Work on the ship's design began in 1999. The keel was laid in 2009. The carrier was floated out of dry dock in December 2011 and launched in August 2013. Basin trials were completed in December 2020, and sea trials started in August 2021. Its commissioning ceremony was held on 2 September 2022. Aircraft flight trials have been completed in 2023. The total cost of the project is approximately 23,000 crore (equivalent to 260 billion or US$3.1 billion in 2023) at the time of first sea trials.

It is 262 metres (860 ft) in length, with a top speed of 72kmph and endurance of 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km; 8,600 mi). The ship has 2,300 compartments crewed by 1,700 sailors. It has a hospital complex, cabins for female officers, eight kilometres (5.0 mi) of corridors, and four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines.