About INS VIKRANT | UPSC Current Affairs

Description

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Context: The successful landing and take off of the indigenous LCA Navy on India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is a momentous step forward towards the realisation of our collective vision of AatmaNirbharBharat. The maiden landing of the Mig-29K also heralds the integration of the fighter aircraft with INS Vikrant.

Details:

INS Vikrant:

About:

It is country’s maiden indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-1).
Built by: Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
The IAC was commissioned in 2022 making it the most potent sea-based asset.
Capabilities: can project Air Power over long distances, including Air Interdiction, Anti-Surface Warfare, offensive and defensive Counter-Air, Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare and Airborne Early Warning.
It has a STOBAR (short take off but arrested recovery) system of aircraft launch and recovery on the flight deck.
It is armed with the Barak LR-SAM (long range surface-to-air missile) air defence and AK-630close-in weapon system besides a slew of advanced sensors and an electronic warfare suite.

Other specifications:

It is expected to have a top speed of 30 knots (approximately 55 kmph) and is propelled by four gas turbines.
Its endurance is 7,500 nautical miles at 18 knots (32 kmph) speed.
The vessel can carry up to 1,500 personnel and has 2,300 compartments.
The ship shall operate MiG-29K fighter aircraft, Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters, the soon to be inducted MH-60R multi-role helicopter and the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters.
Italian, Russian help: While the design was done with help from the Italian firm Fincantieri, the Russians collaborated in designing and developing the aviation complex.

Significance of IAC:

Shining example of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ as it has nearly 75 per cent indigenous content - from design to steel used in construction to key weapons and sensors.
It help secure India's interests in maritime domain.
It will help to realize the vision of SAGAR(Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the wider goal of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific to ensure peace and stability in the region.

LCA:

Background:

In 1983, the Government of India established the LCA project with the initial goal to develop a new light combat aircraft to replace the ageing IAF fighters,especially the MiG-21 variants.
In 1984, the Government of India established Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the aegis of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to manage the LCA programme.

Tejas under LCA Programme:

The HAL Tejas is an Indian, single engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter.
In 2003, the LCA was officially named "Tejas". It is the smallest and lightest in its class of contemporary supersonic combat aircraft.
The Tejas is the second supersonic fighter developed by HAL after the HAL HF-24 Marut.
The Tejas currently has three production models – Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A and trainer variant.

The Mikoyan MiG-29K:

It is a Russian all-weather carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft developed by the Mikoyan Design Bureau.
The MiG-29K was developed in the late 1980s from the MiG-29M.
Mikoyan describes it as a 4+ generation aircraft.

Equipment: The MiG-29K/KUB carries modern targeting and navigation system, quad-redundant fly-by-wire flight control system, radar and optical locating stations, helmet-mounted targeting/display system, communications and self-defense equipment, cockpit instrumentation and other aids that working together provide high flight safety, effective use of weapons, as well as handling of navigation and training tasks.

Armament: The MiG-29K/KUB is equipped with short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, including Kh-31A/P high-speed missiles, guided aerial bombs, unguided rockets and bombs, and an internal gun.

Main benefits: