ID :
48278
Sun, 03/01/2009 - 04:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/48278
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India begins aircraft carrier construction, to go in for more By N C Bipindra
Kochi, Feb 28 (PTI) Joining an elite club of nations
capable of building large warships, India Saturday began the
construction of its first indigenous aircraft carrier at the
Cochin Shipyard here and will go in for 2 to 3 more carriers
in the heavier class.
Pressing a remote to lower the keel -- the ship's
backbone -- into the construction dock of the shipyard,
Defence Minister A K Antony said, "The Navy's carrier will
showcase India's technological prowess and warships' building
capabilities to the world. It will be the largest ever warship
to be built in India."
The 40,000-tonne carrier will operate nearly 30 aircraft
including the Russian MiG-29Ks fighters, Kamov-31 helicopters
and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
"This is a crucial milestone and an occasion to cherish
in the shipbuilding traditions and maritime history of the
nation. The culmination of this prestigious project, sometime
in 2014, will transform India into an aircraft-building
nation," Antony said.
He said that India will certainly produce more indigenous
aircraft carrier, but in the heavier class category to meet
the future challenges and needs of maritime security. "We hope
to operate two to three aircraft carriers simultaneously in
the not too distant future," Mukherjee said.
"Our ever expanding maritime responsibilities require
enhanced 'blue water' capabilities and to achieve this,
integral air cover is a must. Our navy is one of the few
carrier-operating navies worldwide," Antony said.
Among the naval powers of the world, only the US, Russia,
France and the UK have carrier building capability. Even out
of these four, UK is yet to build a carrier with a 40,000
tonne displacement.
India already possesses an aircraft carrier in the
29,000-tonne class, the INS Viraat bought from the British
navy and it has seen 50 years of cumulative naval service. The
45,000-tonne Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier was purchased
from Russia in 2004 and has been re-christened as INS
Vikramaditya and is likely to join Indian Navy in 2012 after
repair and refit in the Russian shipyard Sevmash.
The uncertainty, conflict and threats from maritime
terrorism, piracy, narcotics, smuggling and low-intensity
conflict were perpetrated by both state and non-state actors,
he said, adding "the security of the sea lanes and offshore
infrastructure will have to be ensured for sustainable
development". PTI NCB
SAK
NNNN
capable of building large warships, India Saturday began the
construction of its first indigenous aircraft carrier at the
Cochin Shipyard here and will go in for 2 to 3 more carriers
in the heavier class.
Pressing a remote to lower the keel -- the ship's
backbone -- into the construction dock of the shipyard,
Defence Minister A K Antony said, "The Navy's carrier will
showcase India's technological prowess and warships' building
capabilities to the world. It will be the largest ever warship
to be built in India."
The 40,000-tonne carrier will operate nearly 30 aircraft
including the Russian MiG-29Ks fighters, Kamov-31 helicopters
and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
"This is a crucial milestone and an occasion to cherish
in the shipbuilding traditions and maritime history of the
nation. The culmination of this prestigious project, sometime
in 2014, will transform India into an aircraft-building
nation," Antony said.
He said that India will certainly produce more indigenous
aircraft carrier, but in the heavier class category to meet
the future challenges and needs of maritime security. "We hope
to operate two to three aircraft carriers simultaneously in
the not too distant future," Mukherjee said.
"Our ever expanding maritime responsibilities require
enhanced 'blue water' capabilities and to achieve this,
integral air cover is a must. Our navy is one of the few
carrier-operating navies worldwide," Antony said.
Among the naval powers of the world, only the US, Russia,
France and the UK have carrier building capability. Even out
of these four, UK is yet to build a carrier with a 40,000
tonne displacement.
India already possesses an aircraft carrier in the
29,000-tonne class, the INS Viraat bought from the British
navy and it has seen 50 years of cumulative naval service. The
45,000-tonne Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier was purchased
from Russia in 2004 and has been re-christened as INS
Vikramaditya and is likely to join Indian Navy in 2012 after
repair and refit in the Russian shipyard Sevmash.
The uncertainty, conflict and threats from maritime
terrorism, piracy, narcotics, smuggling and low-intensity
conflict were perpetrated by both state and non-state actors,
he said, adding "the security of the sea lanes and offshore
infrastructure will have to be ensured for sustainable
development". PTI NCB
SAK
NNNN
