The 262-meter-long carrier, much larger and more advanced than her predecessor, has a full displacement of nearly 45,000 tonnes. The ship has a top speed of 28 knots and is powered by four gas turbines totalling 88 MW. It is expected to transport up to thirty aircraft, including 24-26 fixed-wing combat aircraft, primarily the MiG-29K, and ten Kamov Ka-31 or Sea King helicopters. The Ka-31 will provide an airborne early warning (AEW), while the Sea King will provide anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
Built at an overall cost of close to Rs. 20,000 Crs, the project has progressed in three Phases of the contract between MoD and CSL, concluded in May 2007, December 2014, and October 2019, respectively, at an overall cost of close to Rs. 20,000 Crs. The ship's keel was laid in February 2009 and launched in August 2013. With a 76 per cent indigenous content, IAC exemplifies the nation's quest for "Aatma Nirbhar Bharat" and boosts the government's "Make in India" initiative. With the delivery of Vikrant, India has joined a select group of nations with the unique capability of designing and building an Aircraft Carrier in-house.
The IAC is outfitted with a ski-jump for launching aircraft and a set of 'arrester wires' for onboard recovery using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as STOBAR (Short Take-Off but Arrested Landing). The indigenous aircraft carrier would be commissioned into the Indian Navy as an Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant.
