Here is the letest pics of IAC
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Defence News - Indigenous aircraft carrier launch this Dec
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December this year, after which the warship
will be launched, Defence Minister AK Antony
said Tuesday.
Antony, in a written reply to questions in the
Lok Sabha, said the Cochin Shipyard Limited
(CSL) had completed 75 percent of the hull
work on the IAC, which is also known as the
Air Defence Ship.
"Regarding the Air Defence Ship being
constructed at CSL, 75 percent of hull work
has been completed and is expected to be
launched in December 2011, after which further
works will be undertaken prior to
commissioning," Antony said.
He said the augmentation of infrastructure at
CSL was in progress and Indian-made hull
quality steel was now available that will reduce
the countrys dependence on foreign sources.
"With the infrastructure and experience,
indigenous aircraft carrier-sized ships can be
built at CSL. Additionally, Indian-manufactures
warship quality steel is now available, which
will reduce dependence on foreign countries,"
he said.
Declaring India's intention of having at least
two carrier task forces with aircraft carrier
warships as the pivot of such battle groups,
Antony said the country should be capable of
deploying them on two locations soon.
"To maintain effective presence in our area of
interest, Indian Navy should be capable of
deploying carrier task forces in two
geographically separated locations," he said.
The navy already operates the Centaur-class
INS Viraat aircraft carrier. The refit and
modernisation works on board the INS
Vikramaditya, formerly Russian Navy aircraft
carrier Admiral Gorshkov, are progressing in
an earnest manner, the minister said.
"Consequent to signing of supplementary
agreements in March 2010, the Russian side
has increased the manpower and material
resources considerably for the (Vikramaditya)
project. A majority of the equipment and
systems have been installed on board the
ship. The delivery of the ship is scheduled in
December 2012," he added.