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Indian Navy floats out first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
The Hindu ^

Posted on 12/30/2011 2:36:46 AM PST by MBT ARJUN

The first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) of the Navy was floated out at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), at a low-key event attended by senior shipping and naval officers on Thursday.

Among those present were Union Shipping Secretary K. Mohandas; Rear Admiral K.N. Vaidyanathan, Director General, Naval Design; and Commodore K. Subramaniam, Chairman and Managing Director of CSL.

The floating ceremony was followed by a meeting to review the progress in the work being done on the aircraft carrier, a 40,000-tonne fleet air defence platform of the Navy, which will be named after the legendary INS Vikrant. The Union Shipping Secretary told The Hindu that the work on the carrier was progressing, albeit not as per schedule, as so many variables were being factored into the extremely complex construction process.

The official added that the commissioning of the carrier, the keel of which was laid in February 2009, was likely to overshoot its original timeline.

According to a senior naval functionary, the carrier was ‘technically floated out' as the shipyard needed the dry-dock for ‘some other commercial work.' “The carrier has taken on about 14,000 tonnes. She would now undergo interior outfitting, including the laying of pipes before being dry-docked again in the latter half of next year for integration of the propulsion gear-box, generators and the like,” he told The Hindu.

As earlier reported by The Hindu, a delay in the delivery of gear boxes and associated systems had considerably slowed down the construction of the prestigious carrier. Naval officers, however, put on a brave face saying that the phase in which teething trouble was encountered was over. “The gear box is ready and undergoing trials, at last. The underwater package is all lined up but the rest of the equipment has to be identified and tested,” said a naval source.

After facing initial hiccups due to paucity of supply of steel, the carrier project got the much-required thrust with the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) and the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) fashioning carrier-grade steel indigenously.

After the steel supply stabilised, problems pertaining to quality gearbox put the brakes on the project. Elecon Engineering Company Limited, a Gujarat-based firm which had earlier manufactured CODOG marine gear boxes for the Navy's Shivalik-class stealth frigates, found itself in the red attempting to make the carrier's huge main gearboxes. “They have been able to overcome the difficulties with support from a German firm,” said a Navy officer.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: aircraftcarrier; china; india; navair; us
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1 posted on 12/30/2011 2:36:52 AM PST by MBT ARJUN
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To: MBT ARJUN

India has a navy? Who knew? lol


2 posted on 12/30/2011 3:11:54 AM PST by Phlap (REDNECK@LIBARTS.EDU)
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To: Phlap

Not only a Navy, but one with surprising capability, and the stones to use it. They have a habit of dealing with Somali pirates the way we all wish everyone else would, i.e. as soon as they see them, they start shooting. This indigenous carrier will be a nice counterpart to the one they bought from the Russians, which hopefully will be delivered soon.


3 posted on 12/30/2011 3:46:17 AM PST by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: Phlap

You’ve most likely set the bar for the most idiotic comment of the year, LOL!


4 posted on 12/30/2011 3:55:58 AM PST by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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To: Phlap

The carrier will have a crew complement of 5,928,293


5 posted on 12/30/2011 4:04:33 AM PST by relictele (Green energy is neither)
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To: relictele

I had the same image of train loaded top to bottom.


6 posted on 12/30/2011 4:13:56 AM PST by steveyp
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To: MBT ARJUN

Congratulations to India! Now go kick some butt!


7 posted on 12/30/2011 4:19:09 AM PST by Caipirabob ( Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: relictele
And that is just the ones hanging on the out side, they hold the worlds record for the number of people on top of a train car, Pakistan placed second.
8 posted on 12/30/2011 4:31:00 AM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Newt, Willard, Perry and nervous supporters.)
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To: MBT ARJUN

“...floated out...”

Good start.


9 posted on 12/30/2011 4:40:45 AM PST by PLMerite (Shut the Beyotch Down! Burn, baby, burn!)
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To: Little Pig
Not only a Navy, but one with surprising capability, and the stones to use it. They have a habit of dealing with Somali pirates the way we all wish everyone else would, i.e. as soon as they see them, they start shooting.

No they don't, not on sight. In the most noted incident in Nov 2008, INS Tabar requested a suspect boat stop and be searched.
The pirates (for they were) responded "Go away silly warship boat, or we sink you".
The pirates then fired on the Tabar, and the Indian Captain said "Number One, Release the Kashtan"

Paired 6 barrel 30mm gatlings


10 posted on 12/30/2011 4:40:57 AM PST by Oztrich Boy (Whatever happened to that Amy Summerland sailing chick?)
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To: Oztrich Boy

Too bad there isn’t a LiveLeak video of that engagement.

And Bravo! to India on this milestone.


11 posted on 12/30/2011 4:56:29 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Phlap

The Indian Navy could give the Chinese Navy a run for its money. The Indian Navy is the best 3rd world navy by far.


12 posted on 12/30/2011 5:12:16 AM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Vroomfondel

Navair ping


13 posted on 12/30/2011 5:14:58 AM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Little Pig

Do they have the Battle Group to go with the Carrier?


14 posted on 12/30/2011 5:33:00 AM PST by Old Retired Army Guy
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To: MBT ARJUN

This thread is useless without pics! :)


15 posted on 12/30/2011 5:41:08 AM PST by toeknee32
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To: MBT ARJUN

curry-powered carrier? ... urrpp


16 posted on 12/30/2011 5:46:49 AM PST by TheRightGuy (I want MY BAILOUT ... a billion or two should do!)
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

Actually, yeah.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ships_of_the_Indian_Navy

You could probably quibble over the air-defense cruiser slots being filed by larger destroyers but in terms of destroyers, submarines, auxiliaries,and a trained and equipped air wing, they are all already on hand.

The new Vikrant is replacing the present INS Vikrant so the ship can be retired from service. The Indian Navy has been operating a CTOL carrier for decades and has already gone through the process of organizing a standing CVBG for her.

In this, the Indians are decades ahead of the Chinese in terms of experience.


17 posted on 12/30/2011 7:13:43 AM PST by Captain Rhino (“Si vis pacem, para bellum” - If you want peace, prepare for war.)
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To: magslinger; SC Swamp Fox; Fred Hayek; NY Attitude; P3_Acoustic; investigateworld; lowbuck; ...
SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

18 posted on 12/30/2011 9:42:51 AM PST by Vroomfondel
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To: toeknee32

19 posted on 12/30/2011 9:45:38 AM PST by ErnBatavia (Obama Voters: Jose Baez wants YOU for his next jury pool.......)
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To: Phlap
India has world's 5th largest navy with 3 aircraft carriers and nuclear subs. You have been out of touch haven't you?
20 posted on 12/30/2011 10:53:49 AM PST by ravager
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