Updated: December 3, 2020 4:47:26 pm
INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier currently under construction at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), is expected to go into operation late next year or early 2022 (Photo Credit: Twitter / DefensePROKochi)
Amid Chinese aggression in LAC and at sea, a senior official said Thursday. the Indian Navy played an important role in “dissuading” the naval forces of the People’s Liberation Army to send a strong message.
“… the Navy showed its deterrence capacity at sea. The Armada is a silent service and once you navigate the horizon, no one knows what happens, except those who have communication systems on ships. The Navy played an important role in deterring the PLA (Navy) at that time and the message has reached them unambiguously that they cannot mess with us either at sea or on land, ”said Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, flag officer the commanding officer of the Southern Naval Command, told reporters aboard INS Shardul on the occasion of this year’s Navy Week.
He said the situation had prompted the Navy to focus on developing its strengths, such as force levels, human resources, operational capabilities and partnerships.
The Vice Admiral also said that INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier currently under construction at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), was expected to be put into service by the end of next year or early 2022.
Sea trials of the aircraft carrier are planned in the first half of next year, followed by test flight operations in the second half before commissioning, Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla said.
Earlier this week, the carrier basin tests were carried out successfully at CSL. As part of the in-basin testing, the ship’s machinery and equipment are examined in buoyant conditions before starting sea trials. Upon commissioning, the aircraft carrier will have the capacity to accommodate up to 30 combat aircraft and helicopters.
The Navy plans to celebrate 2021 as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ as part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of victory in the 1971 war.
Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh also said his force was alive to various threats in the maritime domain, including China, and was fully prepared to deal with them. India and China are locked in a border row in eastern Ladakh for nearly seven months.
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