India Navy Aircraft Carriers

[Soldier30]

Video of India's new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant put into operation on 2 September. The ship is armed with four Italian 76-mm artillery systems from the Italian Leonardo group, two Israeli-made Barak-1 and Barak-8 missile systems, and Russian AK-630 anti-aircraft artillery systems. The air wing of 26 aircraft included the MiG-29K fighter, the Russian Ka-31 helicopter and the American MH-60R helicopter. In the future, it is possible to replace the aircraft with the French Rafale M or the American F-18 Super Hornet. The cost of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is US$2.9 billion. The cruising range of the aircraft carrier is 7,500 nautical miles. Crew - 1560 people.

 

[Zapper]

Video of India's new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant put into operation on 2 September. The ship is armed with four Italian 76-mm artillery systems from the Italian Leonardo group, two Israeli-made Barak-1 and Barak-8 missile systems, and Russian AK-630 anti-aircraft artillery systems. The air wing of 26 aircraft included the MiG-29K fighter, the Russian Ka-31 helicopter and the American MH-60R helicopter. In the future, it is possible to replace the aircraft with the French Rafale M or the American F-18 Super Hornet. The cost of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is US$2.9 billion. The cruising range of the aircraft carrier is 7,500 nautical miles. Crew - 1560 people.

There's no Barak-1 on the Vikrant...just Barak-8 MR-SAM

 

[iceream]

Barak-8

It's not Israeli it's a JV we own the IP

 

[Rodeo]

I couldn't find any video of aircraft landing on the ship? Wasn't it shared with the media?

 

[Nilgiri]

I couldn't find any video of aircraft landing on the ship? Wasn't it shared with the media?

the first landing on-board the INS Vikrant likely to take place only early next year, (2023)

Why Indian Navy pilots haven’t landed on an aircraft carrier in 2 yrs & won't anytime soon

While INS Vikramaditya's repair and refit process is delayed, landing on aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will likely take place early 2023. Meanwhile, naval pilots train on a shore-based test facility in Goa.

theprint.in

They have landed helicopters so far on vikrant I remember , they are technically aircraft.

 

[Afif]

Rajnath Singh also asserted that it is a key responsibility of the Indian Navy to secure the country’s maritime interests for uninterrupted maritime trade, amid the constantly-changing global situation. He commended the Navy for always being the ‘First Responder’ in times of any national or international crisis and exuded confidence that the commissioning of INS Vikrant will further enhance the force’s capability. He added that this is an assurance to the friendly foreign countries that India is fully capable of meeting the collective security needs of the region. “We believe in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Our efforts in this regard are guided by ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) as envisioned by the Prime Minister,” he said.

I an wondering who are these 'foreign friendly countries' he is assuring of collective security ?

 

[Rodeo]

the first landing on-board the INS Vikrant likely to take place only early next year, (2023)

Why Indian Navy pilots haven’t landed on an aircraft carrier in 2 yrs & won't anytime soon

While INS Vikramaditya's repair and refit process is delayed, landing on aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will likely take place early 2023. Meanwhile, naval pilots train on a shore-based test facility in Goa.

theprint.in

They have landed helicopters so far on vikrant I remember , they are technically aircraft.

But why did they commission the ship before any fighter-jet landing? What did they test during its sea-trials? Helicopters can land on OPVs too. This is an aircraft carrier. It's main purpose is to carry fighters and they put the ship in service before it has any aircraft to carry. I mean what does the crew on-board do?

If they pulled something like this in Turkey, I would think it must be election year and government using it as a political tool. Is it something like that in India or I'm reading it wrong?

Edit: I read the article and as I understand it, it's a "preliminary acceptance". So commissioning doesn't necessarily mean it's ready for duty.

 

[rai456]

But why did they commission the ship before any fighter-jet landing? What did they test during its sea-trials? Helicopters can land on OPVs too. This is an aircraft carrier. It's main purpose is to carry fighters and they put the ship in service before it has any aircraft to carry. I mean what does the crew on-board do?

If they pulled something like this in Turkey, I would think it must be election year and government using it as a political tool. Is it something like that in India or I'm reading it wrong?

Edit: I read the article and as I understand it, it's a "preliminary acceptance". So commissioning doesn't necessarily mean it's ready for duty.

Well the ship does have aircraft in it. It's just that the MiG-29Ks have only been used for handling trails so far. That's what aircraft crew on board have been doing. Practicing moving the MiG-29Ks around and loading them on the elevators.

Aircraft carriers are usually commissioned before flight trials. For example the UK's HMS Queen Elizabeth was comissioned at the end of 2017. It did helicopter trials at the beginning of 2018 and the first fighter jet landing did not take place until September 2018, almost a year after its comissioning.

For aircraft carriers the commissioning is usually done after sea trial to establish the sea worthiness of the ship. The comissioning is basically the handing over of the ship from the builder to the navy. The navy then conducts its own flight trials.

 

[Gessler]

I an wondering who are these 'foreign friendly countries' he is assuring of collective security ?

The only IOR country where India has a history of intervening militarily to defend against a foreign attack (in that case, non-state actors like PLOTE) is the Maldives. So that's the safest bet if one wants to guess. Though very similar security arrangements are also likely to be in place with Mauritius & Seychelles as well, as India has major facilities on some of their islands.

If one wants to really expand the possibilities, the most likely is some form of collective action with the other QUAD Navies - USN, RAN & JMSDF - with regard to blockading the various Straits connecting IOR with SCS (Malacca, Sunda etc.) as a response to a potential Chinese blockade of Taiwan. But there is no security obligation to do that, which is why this would only be an 'expanded possibility'.

 

[Gessler]

Vikrant conducts at-sea replenishment with INS Deepak

 

[Gessler]

As some expected, the Navy may not want to lose the carrier-building experience accrued by CSL waiting for IAC-2. A repeat order of Vikrant is now plausible:

India’s 3rd Aircraft Carrier to be Another INS Vikrant? Navy Chief Says Discussions On for Repeat Order - News18

Admiral R Hari Kumar said navy has put on hold plans to build the second indigenous aircraft carrier as it is satisfied with the trial performance of INS Vikrant and wanted to capitalise on expertise available

www.news18.com

@Nilgiri

I wonder if it will be the same STOBAR ship again or if they will switch to a CATOBAR/EMALS setup. So far only the Fujian is attempting to deploy EMALS on a gas-powered ship.

'IAC 1.5' concept imagined by artist Harshal Pal, a CATOBAR version of Vikrant:

 

[Gary]

As some expected, the Navy may not want to lose the carrier-building experience accrued by CSL waiting for IAC-2. A repeat order of Vikrant is now plausible:

India’s 3rd Aircraft Carrier to be Another INS Vikrant? Navy Chief Says Discussions On for Repeat Order - News18

Admiral R Hari Kumar said navy has put on hold plans to build the second indigenous aircraft carrier as it is satisfied with the trial performance of INS Vikrant and wanted to capitalise on expertise available

www.news18.com

@Nilgiri

I wonder if it will be the same STOBAR ship again or if they will switch to a CATOBAR/EMALS setup. So far only the Fujian is attempting to deploy EMALS on a gas-powered ship.

'IAC 1.5' concept imagined by artist Harshal Pal, a CATOBAR version of Vikrant:

View attachment 51081

Interesting configuration, usually there's either 1 catapult on the bow and one catapult on the angled deck. But here, it looks like they go for 2 catapult on the bow, while the angled deck are purposefully for landing only.

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1599370170430283779

 

[Rajendra Chola]

As some expected, the Navy may not want to lose the carrier-building experience accrued by CSL waiting for IAC-2. A repeat order of Vikrant is now plausible:

India’s 3rd Aircraft Carrier to be Another INS Vikrant? Navy Chief Says Discussions On for Repeat Order - News18

Admiral R Hari Kumar said navy has put on hold plans to build the second indigenous aircraft carrier as it is satisfied with the trial performance of INS Vikrant and wanted to capitalise on expertise available

www.news18.com

@Nilgiri

I wonder if it will be the same STOBAR ship again or if they will switch to a CATOBAR/EMALS setup. So far only the Fujian is attempting to deploy EMALS on a gas-powered ship.

'IAC 1.5' concept imagined by artist Harshal Pal, a CATOBAR version of Vikrant:

View attachment 51081

Same stobar. If it’s Catobar, then it’s not IAC1 copy. As of now, no design work is involved, just order one more, only manufacturing is involved.

 

[Gessler]

 

[Zapper]

As some expected, the Navy may not want to lose the carrier-building experience accrued by CSL waiting for IAC-2. A repeat order of Vikrant is now plausible:

India’s 3rd Aircraft Carrier to be Another INS Vikrant? Navy Chief Says Discussions On for Repeat Order - News18

Admiral R Hari Kumar said navy has put on hold plans to build the second indigenous aircraft carrier as it is satisfied with the trial performance of INS Vikrant and wanted to capitalise on expertise available

www.news18.com

@Nilgiri

I wonder if it will be the same STOBAR ship again or if they will switch to a CATOBAR/EMALS setup. So far only the Fujian is attempting to deploy EMALS on a gas-powered ship.

'IAC 1.5' concept imagined by artist Harshal Pal, a CATOBAR version of Vikrant:

View attachment 51081

What are they gonna equip these two carriers with given the delay in TEDBF...I hope it isn't the Mig-29K. Wish the yanks gave us F-35 B/C

 

[Nilgiri]

Same stobar. If it’s Catobar, then it’s not IAC1 copy. As of now, no design work is involved, just order one more, only manufacturing is involved.

It makes more sense to do some redesign to have it CATOBAR at least if EMALs cannot be done....given the large investment into the entire ship broadly.

Operation window would be expanded greatly in performance window as heavier aircraft and small UAVs can operate side by side without having to change them much or accept STOBAR tradeoffs for them.

Let us see what Navy means, they can keep the tonnage roughly the same and most of the ship the same overall with IAC near clone while improving launch capability.

 

[Rajendra Chola]

It makes more sense to do some redesign to have it CATOBAR at least if EMALs cannot be done....given the large investment into the entire ship broadly.

Operation window would be expanded greatly in performance window as heavier aircraft and small UAVs can operate side by side without having to change them much or accept STOBAR tradeoffs for them.

Let us see what Navy means, they can keep the tonnage roughly the same and most of the ship the same overall with IAC near clone while improving launch capability.

But Even steam catapults require huge amount of power, meaning adding more turbines and boilers. It also does not make sense to have 2 sets of fighters for this purpose. Technically the same aircraft can work in both stobar and catapult but fatigue, stress, mtbf would be unpredictable as fighters are generally fly on available carriers at that point of time.

When we do go for 65T tones, then we should go for EMALS, as enough R&D can be done to go for subsequent emals carriers. Point being even Catobar carriers are temporary as the end goal of navy is to have Emals

 

[Nilgiri]

But Even steam catapults require huge amount of power, meaning adding more turbines and boilers. It also does not make sense to have 2 sets of fighters for this purpose. Technically the same aircraft can work in both stobar and catapult but fatigue, stress, mtbf would be unpredictable as fighters are generally fly on available carriers at that point of time.

When we do go for 65T tones, then we should go for EMALS, as enough R&D can be done to go for subsequent emals carriers. Point being even Catobar carriers are temporary as the end goal of navy is to have Emals

There are 4 gas turbines on Vikrant.

2 would have to be replaced with steam turbines to make about 60 MW (using French CdG as reference in this weight class and aircraft weights). Not ideal of course, but it can be done if another carrier is truly "the chokepoint" in Indian naval power (i.e relative supply and fund plethora in naval aviation within this realm and submarines in adjacent realm).

EMALs would definitely be preferable for this reason of expediency and especially given BARC naval reactor delay (their timeline is now 15+ years away iirc) that would warrant a total clean-sheet approach instead.

India via the Quad should definitely accelerate further cooperation in EMALs or straight up acquisition from General Atomics, if decision solidifies for another carrier as most prudent capability addition (I disagree with this though compared to subs especially).

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1605546263008620544