Photos: Keel-laying ceremony of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

I took these photos in the building dry-dock at the Cochin Shipyard yesterday. The metal hunks at the top at blocks that will progressively be lowered into the drydock to outfit the hull. The drydocks are to be flooded (the “launch”) 22 months from now, if everything goes well.

Incidentally, the shipyard expects the Navy to place an order for a second indigenous aircraft carrier by the end of the year, and work will begin by early next year, though only if there are no major design changes from the first. Significantly, the current vessel is the largest that can be built by CSL in its current building dry-dock. If it wants to embark on larger carriers, as envisaged by the Navy, it will need to expand its dry-dock, or build an entirely new one. The recession has put paid to its plans to fund this expansion through an investment IPO, though the Defence Ministry has promised to support the shipyard’s shelved plans to build a new drydock.

Coming up: exclusive photos of old faithful INS Viraat undergoing a mini-refit in the repair drydock at CSL.

All Photos by Shiv Aroor / LiveFist

27 thoughts on “Photos: Keel-laying ceremony of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier”

  1. shiv,you sure you visited the keel laying ceremony? It seems you turned up at a marriage mandap by mistake….those last pics remind me of the big cauldron we used for making sweets for the festivities.

  2. Shit. i was expecting much more of the IAC to have completed. This is just starting right from scratch and its already 2009!

  3. Hi Shiv,
    Is the model of IAC a scale model(including Mig 29k’s?) If so then the IAC is going to have more deck area than the INS Vikramaditya what is the war-time aircraft complement of the Vik? If it is 30 odd aircraft then the IAC will surely carry more aircraft than 30.

    There was a mention of LR-SAM developement on one of the news reports can u clarify tht?

  4. CSY looking another order of IAC of same capacity??? Getting a feel that it would be replacement/alternative for Admiral Gorshkov…What do you feel Aroor-ji about it, looking @ Russia who are escalating costs for it??

  5. hi shiv,

    this a.c. seems very small,just like a gorshkov, only 30 migs? , no surprise they complete it in 22 months ,
    is their any plan to make 60k ton + nuclear powered a.c. next?

  6. hi shiv,

    this a.c is small,not possible to induce any sea superiority with it,(only 30 migs)
    is their any plan to make a 60k ton + nuclear powered a.c.

  7. Shiv, a nice one. What about the second carrier and will the Shipyard will be ready for a larger carrier, when the second one is finished? Since this images are taken by you, can these IAC images be used in Wikimedia commons for use in Wikipedia.

  8. Shiv, a nice one. What about the second carrier and will the Shipyard will be ready for a larger carrier, when the second one is finished? Since this images are taken by you, can these IAC images be used in Wikimedia commons for use in Wikipedia.

  9. Shiv – great pics! Also – thanks for the timeline. 22 months really doesn’t seem that bad. Will sea trials follow that?

  10. Seems like IAC may be available before Gorshov (2012-2013) IF proper funds are diverted.

    @Bombay Walla – Nuclear carriers are a long way off. Remember we don’t have a matured, naval-ised and miniaturized nuclear reactor yet. Once ATV’s reactor technology matures, and when India needs global reach, they may go for a Nuclear powered carrier.

  11. Comparing this model with the one at aero india 09, the sky jump doesn’t match up. are two different teams designing this? there a finalized deck design?

  12. @sachin_sathe

    INS Vikramaditya can carry max. upto 16 AC only….

    @shiv, how many IAC blocks are completed ???

  13. 30 aircrafts include fixed wing and rotary wing. Therefore, around 16 Mig-29K anf rest anti submarine/ship rotary wing A/C.

  14. My bros i again request u'll to talk logically.There are three indigineous carriers in the pipeline all gas turbine powered.all of them will b in by 2025, D 1st by 2012-13,2nd by 2017,3rd by 2023-25 & all will have nuk reactors as mid life upgrade.and a pair of nuk powered 60,000 t carrier will start from only after 2025,yes u heard right india will only b the second nation to operate more than 5 carriers at the same time other than uncle sam who will operating a woo 10 at a time and china & ruski will have 3 each.More we have achived the milestone of miniature light water reactors(with d help of french & ruski) although there were a few bottle necks. BY ARUN KURUP (working for DRDO)

  15. @Anon 11:25 AM

    Dear friend, sachin sathe is asking about INS Vikramaditya Aircraft carrying capacity. From my sources, It is max. 16 AC + 6 Heli. , not 30 AC. correct me if I am wrong. Thanks..

  16. My bro u r right THE GORSKY will just have a cap of 16 mig29 and 8 rotary.An other set back is that they would not b able to carry full payload due to positioning of air strip and use of skijump.but the IAC a good space management and can carry max of 20 fixed & 10 rottary(still to conform) by ARUN KURUP

  17. Its 22 months just to launch the ship..i.e. flood the dry dock and tow the ship out to a real dock and start fittings. This outfitting will take another 3 years atleast befor the ship is realy for sea trials.

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