INS Vikrant: India’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Marks New Era in Naval Self-Reliance and Regional Power Projection

INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, showcases naval self-reliance, combat readiness, and strategic power in the Indo-Pacific.

TheInterviewTimes.com | October 25, 2025 | New Delhi— In a dazzling display of maritime might and national pride, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali 2025 aboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, during an overnight sea sortie from October 19 to 20. The visit, which included high-intensity air and naval demonstrations, underscored the carrier’s operational maturity and India’s growing stature as a self-reliant defense powerhouse in the Indo-Pacific.

Commissioned on September 2, 2022, by PM Modi himself at Kochi, INS Vikrant — named after its predecessor that played a pivotal role in the 1971 Indo-Pak War — is not just a warship. It is a floating testament to Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defense.

A Symbol of Indigenous Engineering Excellence

Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), INS Vikrant is the largest warship ever constructed in India.

Key Technical Specifications:

The carrier operates on the STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) system, enabling ski-jump launches and arrested landings. Its air wing can accommodate up to 30 aircraft, including:

• MiG-29K fighter jets
• MiG-29KUB (trainer variant)
• Kamov-31 AEW helicopters
• MH-60R multi-role helicopters
• ALH (Dhruv)
• Chetak

“INS Vikrant is a symbol of indigenous potential, resources, and skills,” the Prime Minister remarked during his address to the crew.

Diwali at Sea: PM Witnesses Full-Spectrum Combat Drills

The two-day sortie off the western coast was packed with high-octane military displays:

• Day and night air operations with MiG-29K jets
• Anti-submarine rocket firing
• Close-range anti-aircraft gun demonstrations
• Night underway replenishment with INS Deepak
• Steam past and fly past by naval aircraft
• Special forces combat demonstration
• Yoga session at sea and cultural program
• Traditional Barakhana with the crew

The Prime Minister interacted with sailors, praising their courage and professionalism. “Celebrating Diwali with our brave warriors at sea reinforces our resolve to protect Bharat on every frontier,” he said.

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From Blueprint to Blue Water: A Timeline of Triumph

Economic Impact: Jobs, MSMEs, and Industrial Growth

The Vikrant project was more than a military endeavor — it was an economic catalyst:

• 550+ OEMs involved
• 100+ MSMEs engaged
• 2,000 direct jobs at CSL
• 12,500 indirect jobs across supply chains

Major Indian firms like BEL, BHEL, L&T, GRSE, Keltron, and Wartsila contributed critical systems. The development of warship-grade steel in collaboration with DRDO and SAIL has made India self-sufficient in this strategic material.

Operational Prowess: From War Games to Lifesaving Missions

Since commissioning, INS Vikrant has proven its mettle across combat and humanitarian roles:

Key Operations:

1. MILAN 2024 (Feb 2024) – Hosted 36 ships, 55 aircraft, and delegations from 47 nations.
2. Exercise Varuna 2025 – Bilateral drills with French carrier Charles de Gaulle.
3. TROPEX 2025 – India’s largest theater-level war exercise.
4. Exercise Konkan 2025 – Joint ops with UK Royal Navy.
5. Operation Sindoor – Led carrier battle group in northern Arabian Sea, enforcing strategic compellence against Pakistan Navy, contributing to ceasefire.

Humanitarian Mission (March 2025):

While deployed in the Arabian Sea, INS Vikrant responded to a distress call from MV Heilan Star (Panama-flagged bulk carrier). A Sea King helicopter executed a daring MEDEVAC, winching three injured crew members 230 nautical miles off Goa and airlifting them to INS Hansa for treatment.

“This operation showcased our commitment as the first responder in the Indian Ocean Region,” a senior naval officer told this correspondent.

Future-Ready: Rafale-Marine and Second IAC

In a major boost to carrier aviation, India signed a ₹63,000 crore deal in April 2025 with France for 26 Rafale-Marine jets. These carrier-capable fighters will operate from both INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, with:

• Pilot training
• Simulators
• Weapons package
• Long-term maintenance
• Technology transfer to Indian firms

The Navy is also advancing plans for a second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-2) and relocating INS Vikrant’s homeport to Visakhapatnam to bolster the Eastern Naval Command.

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Power Beyond Warfare: A Floating City

INS Vikrant generates enough electricity to power 5,000 households. Its internal wiring spans the distance from Kochi to Kashi (Varanasi). With advanced automation in navigation, machinery, and survivability, it serves as a mobile command center, hospital, and logistics hub during disasters.

India’s Maritime Resurgence: By the Numbers

• 40+ indigenous warships/submarines delivered since 2014
• New platform inducted every 40 days on average
• 133 ships/submarines built in India (as of Dec 2024)
• 63 of 64 planned warships under construction in Indian yards

Conclusion: A Carrier That Inspires a Nation

As INS Vikrant slices through the waves under the tricolor, it carries more than jets and missiles — it carries India’s ambition.

From enforcing deterrence in Operation Sindoor to saving lives in the Arabian Sea, from hosting the Prime Minister at Diwali to training alongside global navies, INS Vikrant has redefined India’s maritime identity.

“This is not just a ship. It is the new confidence of a New India,” PM Modi declared.

As the sun set over the Arabian Sea on October 20, 2025, with MiG-29Ks roaring overhead, one thing was clear: INS Vikrant is not just ready for war — it is ready for the future.

Sources: Press Information Bureau