Ins Vikrant

Rajnath Singh addresses top naval commanders onboard INS Vikrant

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday reviewed India's maritime security challenges with the top naval commanders onboard the country's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea, amid China's burgeoning military posturing in the Indian Ocean region. As the 43,000-tonne steel behemoth, accompanied by a fleet of over 20 frontline frigates, destroyers and submarines, sailed across the high seas, the defence minister, sitting inside the Main Briefing Room of the nearly 262-metre long and 59-metre tall ship, complimented the naval commanders for fiercely protecting India's maritime interests in the strategic waters. Before addressing the commanders at the biannual naval conference, Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and other naval commanders witnessed a mega wargame involving Vikrant, the accompanying ships and almost all attack aircraft including MiG-29K deck-based jets. "It is a historic occasion," Admiral Kumar ..

Rajnath to address Naval Commanders conference onboard INS Vikrant Monday

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the first edition of the Naval Commanders' conference onboard INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, scheduled to commence on March 6

India steadily building its naval strength, but the usual challenges remain

Inadequate budgets, delays in placing orders and then in construction, poorly coordinated delivery schedules, and the China factor present manifold challenges for the navy, notes T N Ninan

Next aircraft carrier might also be a small one, says Admiral Kumar

Successive navy chiefs have publicly stated that INS Vishal, the expected name for IAC-2, would be a 65,000-tonne carrier that would embark 55-60 aircraft

Aircraft integration with INS Vikrant likely by May-June 2023: Navy chief

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar on Wednesday said the integration of aircraft with the newly commissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is likely to be accomplished by May or June next year. The sea-going trials are already over after which the carrier was commissioned. Now, the aircraft integration trials have been started, he told reporters after reviewing the Passing Out Parade of the 143rd course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla in Maharashtra's Pune district. "The first thing we need to check is about the aircraft landing system. Those trials are going on currently. Normally, the integration of the aircraft takes anytime between six to eight months from the commissioning of the aircraft. We hope to accomplish it by May or June before the monsoon," he said. On the induction of the first batch of women cadets in the NDA, he said, "Our forces are gender neutral. Women are already doing combat services. There are women officers in the forces including .

US-France competition heats up for fighter jets to deck INS Vikrant

The intense competition between US aerospace giant Boeing and French major Dassault Aviation to deck their fighter jets on India's INS Vikrant seems to have heated up

French Armed Forces Minister visits indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

A French high-level delegation led by Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu visited the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant on Sunday, said a statement by Southern Naval Command

US Secretary of Navy on five-day visit to India, to inspect INS Vikrant

He will also meet Indian Navy chief, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, and high-ranking government officials in New Delhi

Target is to double crude steel output in 10 years: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India has set a target to double the crude steel production capacity from 154 million tonnes per annum now to 300 million tonnes per annum in the next 9 to 10 years in an order to boost indigenous capabilities. In his virtual address as the chief guest at the "bhoomi pujan" of expansion of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India's flagship plant at Hazira in Gujarat's Surat district, Modi said in the past, India had to import high grade steel for the defence sector, but scenario has changed now. Now, however, steel used in making 'INS Vikrant' (first indigenous aircraft carrier) was made in India, said the prime minister. "Due to everybody's efforts in the last eight years, the Indian steel industry has become the second biggest in the world," he said.

Defence exports up 334% in last 5 yrs, now exporting to 75 nations: Govt

Defence exports have grown by 334 per cent in the last five years and India is now exporting to over 75 countries due to collaborative efforts, the government said on Sunday. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a tweet: "The Indian Defence sector, the second largest armed force is at the cusp of revolution." "Defence exports grew by 334 per cent in the last five years; India now exporting to over 75 countries due to collaborative efforts," it said. The PIB India Twitter handle also shared some data in a poster attached with the tweet to underline the indigenisation and boost of production in the defence sector. It mentioned the recent commissioning of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in Kochi. It also mentioned about the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III's squadron being commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard, and successful testing of new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile 'Agni P'. Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, during an interac

Control or denial

Navy's requirement depends on strategic intent

From Russia to France, countries hail India's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain congratulated India and said that Paris is already looking forward to seeing INS Vikrant sail together with the French Navy's flagship aircraft carrier

Questions on a Make-in-India carrier

The new INS Vikrant is reason to celebrate. But it also raises tough questions for India's military and political leaderships

INS Vikrant assurance of greater capabilities for national security: EAM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday that India's maiden indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is not only an expression of new India, but an assurance of greater capabilities for national security and global good. Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Vikrant on Friday, placing the country into a select league of countries with the domestic capability to develop such large vessels. Jaishankar, who is here on a three-day visit to the UAE, said India has been a reliable first responder and a growing contributor to global commons. "As a maritime nation,the SAGAR vision shapes India's outlook. We have been a reliable first responder & a growing contributor to global commons. The INS Vikrant is not only an expression of New India, but an assurance of greater capabilities for national security & global good," Jaishankar said in a tweet. Modi unveiled a plaque to mark the induction of INS Vikrant, named after its predecessor that ...

New ensign pays tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Indian Navy

The octagonal shape in the new ensign is taken from the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Rao, a video released by the Indian Navy said

INS Vikrant is symbol of aspirational, self-reliant new India: Rajnath

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday termed the commissioning of INS Vikrant as a testament to the resolve of the government to ensure the safety and security of the nation in the next 25 years. Singh said Vikrant was a glowing symbol of an aspirational and self-reliant New India'. Speaking during the commissioning of the ship at the Cochin Shipyard limited here, Singh said Vikrant is an icon of pride, power and resolve of the nation. "Its commissioning is an unprecedented achievement in the path of building indigenous warships. The navy's tradition is 'old ships never die'. This new avatar of Vikrant, which played a stellar role in the 1971 war, is a humble tribute to our freedom fighters and brave soldiers," Singh said. Singh said it is a key responsibility of the 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 ..

INS Vikrant collective efforts of past govts; Cong accuses PM of hypocrisy

The Congress on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking credit for the commissioning of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and accused him of "hypocrisy" for not recognising the contributions made by earlier governments. Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh also shared a video of former defence minister A K Antony launching INS Vikrant in August 2013 and said it just happens that the Modi government is in power when the aircraft carrier is being commissioned. "The Modi government has nothing to do with this. The Modi government just happens to be in power when it is being commissioned. In fact, INS Vikrant was launched years ago by Mr A K Antony when he was the defence minister. It has taken 22 years to design, manufacture, test, launch and finally be commissioned today. All that the Modi government has done is commissioning of the vessel and he is taking credit for it," Ramesh told PTI. "So this is hypocrisy, which is typical of

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INS Vikrant is India's thrust to making defence sector self reliant: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said INS Vikrant is an example of Indian government's thrust to making its defence sector self-reliant and has made the country part of the select group of nations who can indigenously make aircraft carriers. Modi also unveiled the Indian Navy's new ensign which drops the St George's Cross and incorporates the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Addressing a large gathering at the commissioning ceremony of INS Vikrant, Modi said with the new ensign, the country has shed its colonial past. Till today Indian Naval flags carried a sign of slavery which has been replaced with a new one inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said. Modi also spoke about certain features of the aircraft carrier -- which he described as a floating airfield, a floating town -- and said that power generated in it can light up 5,000 houses. "INS Vikrant is not a mere war machine but proof of India's skill and talent. It is special, different," Modi said and

PM Modi commissions India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning commissioned the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant in a ceremony at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi