India Launches 1st Indigenous Aircraft Carrier for Sea Trials

On Wednesday, the Twitter account for the Indian navy shared a video of the 262-meter aircraft carrier, dubbed Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1), heading to sea for trials.

The navy said that many more sister ships were to come, hailing the “historic and proud day” for the country.

The vessel will eventually be named INS Vikrant, meaning ‘stepping beyond’, once commissioned, after its predecessor, RT reported.

Sorry, the video player failed to load.(Error Code: 101104)

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the maiden voyage of the 40,000-ton warship was “a true testimony to our unwavering commitment to #Atmanirbharta in Defence.”

Labeling it “a proud moment for India,” he added that the “Realisation of this historic milestone, regardless of COVID, shows true dedication & commitment of all stakeholders.”

The IAC-1 will host a range of fixed and rotary wing aircraft, including the MiG-29K fighter aircraft and Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters, according to the navy.

Indian media cited plans to commission the warship in 2022, when it would become the second aircraft carrier in the country’s fleet. The only aircraft carrier currently in use is the Russian-made INS Vikramaditya.