Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali aboard India’s first home‑built aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, a symbol of the country’s growing defense‑making push under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self‑reliant India) vision.
Modi launched the carrier at Cochin Shipyard in September 2022, calling it “vast, immense, and magnificent.” At this year’s celebration he also unveiled a new naval flag. The flag, inspired by the legendary warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji, replaces an older colonial emblem and marks a bold step toward an independent Indian Navy.
What makes the INS Vikrant special?
– Built by India’s own Warship Design Bureau and Cochin Shipyard, it is the largest vessel ever constructed in the country.
– Length 262.5 m (860 ft) and width 61.6 m (202 ft) with a top speed of 28 knots.
– Holds about 2,200 compartments for a crew of around 1,600 sailors.
– Can carry 30 aircraft: MiG‑29K fighters, Kamov‑31 and MH‑60R helicopters, and indigenously made light helicopters and combat aircraft.
– Uses a special Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system— a ski‑jump launch and arrester wires for landing— allowing jets to take off and land on a small deck.
During the Diwali events the Modi‑led fleet performed a display that was “awe‑inspiring” on social media. He posted photos of MiG‑29K fighters taking off and landing in both daylight and night conditions, calling the maneuver “a breathtaking display of skill, discipline and technological excellence.”
The visual showcase included more than just the carrier. The carrier’s deck was busy with multirole MH-60 “Romeo” helicopters, Kamov‑31s, and fixed‑wing aircraft like the Dornier and P8 I. A fleet parade on the sea featured other Indian Navy warships such as INS Vikramaditya, destroyers INS Surat, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai, INS Imphal, INS Kolkata, frigates INS Tushil, INS Tabar, INS Teg, INS Betwa, and service vessels like tankers INS Deepak and INS Aditya.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted how the commissioning of the INS Vikrant and the new naval ensign marked a move away from colonial symbols toward proven Indian engineering and maritime strength. The ship’s launch, combined with the Diwali celebration, underscored India’s growing self‑reliance in defense technology and its rising presence on the Indian Ocean stage.
Source: ianslive
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