India's First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 'Vikrant' Commissioning on July 2... Intensifying China Containment Efforts

The first domestically produced aircraft carrier of India, the Vikrant. [Image source= Indian Navy]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] India announced that it will commission its first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Vikrant, on the 2nd of next month. This move is expected to intensify efforts to check China, which is expanding its influence and causing maritime sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean region.

According to the Indian Express, a local Indian media outlet, the commissioning ceremony of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant will be held on the 2nd of next month with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. With this, India will become one of the countries possessing domestically built aircraft carriers, joining the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, and France.

The Vikrant, with a displacement of 45,000 tons, means "brave warrior" in Sanskrit. Approximately 200 billion rupees (about 3.3 trillion won) were invested in its construction. It was designed by the Indian Navy's ship design bureau and built at the Cochin Shipyard. Construction began in 2009 and the ship was launched in 2013.

Measuring 62 meters in width and 262 meters in length, the Vikrant can carry about 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets and helicopters. It is expected to be fully operational by the end of next year. However, several flaws were revealed during the construction process. Due to delays in parts procurement, the launch was two years later than originally planned, and simulated tests showed difficulties in the takeoff and landing of armed fighter jets.

India currently operates two aircraft carriers: the Vikramaditya, commissioned in 2013 after being transferred from Russia, and the Vikrant, which will be commissioned soon. Separately, India is also pursuing plans to build an additional 65,000-ton aircraft carrier aimed for commissioning in the 2030s.

The Indian Navy plans to operate a total of three aircraft carriers, deploying one each in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, with the remaining one kept as a reserve. India is currently making every effort to curb China's expanding influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.