India's New Aircraft carrier

India began an eight-year project to build an aircraft carrier in its most ambitious military programme to date, officials said.


Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee launched the construction of the 37,500-tonne carrier at the state-run Cochin Shipyard in the southern state of Kerala, a naval spokesman said on Monday.




The carrier will carry 30 British- and Russian-made jet fighters as well as locally-designed light combat aircraft which took India more than 22 years to develop.


Federal Shipping Minister T.R. Balu said the ship-building yard would complete the project and hand over the carrier to the 137-ship Indian navy by 2012.


"The project is strategically important for our defence and so we will complete it within the target period," Balu said.


The 252 metre-long (831 feet) carrier, which will be powered by four gas turbines and have a range of 7,500 nautical miles, will have a top speed of 28 knots and will carry 160 officers and 1,400 sailors.


It will have two 200 metre-long runways and a landing deck for helicopters.


The carrier was designed by the Indian navy but Italian firm Fincantieri will help Cochin Shipyard integrate the main propulsion system and perform other specialised tasks.

source


Looks like India's trying to stretch out its power, when this ships gets completed they should have about four aircraft carriers. Here is some info on another carrier there refitting from Russia.

In 2004, India bought the Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov for free. It will cost US$800 million to refit, and expected to join Indian Navy in 2008, while US$700 million will be spend to purchase 12 single-seat Mig-29K and 4 dual-seat Mig-29KUB, as well as facilities and procedures for training of pilots and technical staff, delivery of simulators, spare parts, and establishment maintenance on Indian Navy facilities. Also, 6 Kamov-31 attack and reconnaissance anti-submarine helicopters. Upgrades include removing missiles from the carrier foredeck to make way for a 14.3-degrees ski-jump.[5]

source

Aircraft carrier everone want some

Good. We need them to counter China's rising military power. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the US to give them a hand.

Originally posted by NuclearHead
Good. We need them to counter China's rising military power. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the US to give them a hand.

seeing as both China and india are on a economic boom
it would be wise for the US which has a less booming one then both
in a few years either one or both could be the next super power

One of India`s carriers need replacing NOW as its 62 years old!

Built by Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow. Laid down 21 June 1944, renamed 11/1945, construction suspended following WWII. Construction resumed mid-1950's, launched 16 February 1953, commissioned 25 Nov 1959. Initially operated as a light fleet carrier. Refitted 24 Feb 1964-5/1966. Decommissioned to reserve 14 July 1970; converted to a commando carrier at Devenport Dockyard 1 March 1971 to 18 Aug 1973.
Converted to ASW carrier 10 May 1976 to 10 Dec 1976, then replaced in ASW role by Bulwark and converted to VSTOL (Harrier) carrier in 1980. Had been scheduled for decommissioning, but retained for Falklands service. Decommissioned to reserve 12 April 1984, stricken for disposal 1 July 1985.

Sold to India 19 April 1986, refitted prior to transfer, commissioned 12 May 1987 as INS Viraat (R22), formally recommissioned in India 15 Feb 1989. Major refit at Cochin 1999-2001.

www.hazegray.org...



I say retire Viraat now and buy the HMS Invincible

[edit on 10/3/06 by Harlequin]

HMS Invincible was recently listed on the Indian Navy website indicating a future agreed purchase AFAIK it was later removed but it seems likely they will buy it.

I suppose that this carrier is different from the ADS that is currently under construction. Any clarifications?

Originally posted by puneetsg
I suppose that this carrier is different from the ADS that is currently under construction. Any clarifications?

Nope.. one and the same..
No HMS Invincible IMHO..

Originally posted by Daedalus3

Originally posted by puneetsg
I suppose that this carrier is different from the ADS that is currently under construction. Any clarifications?

Nope.. one and the same..
No HMS Invincible IMHO..

INS Vikramaditya as flag ship of the Fleet with Invincible as ASW carrier (which is its job) it also has state of the art CnC equipment.

Originally posted by bodrul

Originally posted by NuclearHead
Good. We need them to counter China's rising military power. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the US to give them a hand.

seeing as both China and india are on a economic boom
it would be wise for the US which has a less booming one then both

in a few years either one or both could be the next super power

The amount and extent of economic ignorance on this board is truly breathtaking. The vast majority of people in Indian and China are buying their first refrigerator or AC unit. A lot of people in those countries don’t have hot and cold running water.

You can’t compare the growth rate of an emergent economy to that of a mature economy and say “look they’ll be a fully integrated, mature economy in ten years!”

Were I to pick a winner, I’d take India hands down. Economic and political freedoms are inexorably linked.

Originally posted by ElTiante

Originally posted by bodrul

Originally posted by NuclearHead
Good. We need them to counter China's rising military power. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the US to give them a hand.

seeing as both China and india are on a economic boom
it would be wise for the US which has a less booming one then both

in a few years either one or both could be the next super power

The amount and extent of economic ignorance on this board is truly breathtaking. The vast majority of people in Indian and China are buying their first refrigerator or AC unit. A lot of people in those countries don’t have hot and cold running water.

China's economy is booming. They're growing at a rate of 9%, higher than most countries. It doesn't matter if most of the people don't own PCs or refrigerators, they most likely eventually will own all those appliances as the Chinese people get more money in their hands.

The problem though, is China is using this economic growth to modernize and expand its military power, which is massive, due to the fact that they have a lot of people. They lag behind Western powers in technology, but they're trying to catch up.

That's why we need India to play the role of counter power. India is perfect for this, since they're the world's largest democracy, they're capitalist, and for the most part they share our values.

There was talk of a 2nd indeginious carrier that was about to be commisioned, seperate from the ADS, so hence was wondering if this was it. I still think that the ADS does not fall into the category of a Mega-Carrier, so they might be talking of the 2nd one.