INS VIKRANT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr. No. Topic Page No.

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. NO. OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER BY OPERATING NATION 3

3. ABOUT INS VIKRANT 4

4. GENERAL INFORMATION 6

5. LAYOUT OF INS VIKRANT 7

6. DESIGN 8

7. CONSTRUCTION 9

8. AIRCRAFTS 14

9. WEAPON SYSTEM 19

10. LAUNCH OF INS VIKRANT 19

11. CONCLUSION 20

12. REFERANCE 21

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR

 INS VIKRANT

1. INTRODUCTION:

The Indian Navy stands at an important juncture in its history. Long

considered a“blue water” navy, many of its major vessels are nearing the end of their
useful servicelives, and will soon require replacement. Unfortunately, the country has
chosen to devote the majority of its fiscal resources toward other pursuits, primarily
business-related ones. Tenuous military procurement relationships with both the east and
the west, coupled with an indigenous shipbuilding program which is struggling to achieve
an acceptable level of productivity, portend for a future that is unclear at best.
Nevertheless, India is expected to enter the 21st Century with a smaller, but still
formidable, regional naval presence. This paper will review the growth of the Indian
Navy over its relatively short history, examine in detail its current tasking, organization
and capabilities, and venture an estimation of what the immediate future may hold for
this proud, but aging force.

About Aircraft Carrier:

The backbone of India’s Navy is its carrier force, which consists of the INS
Vikrant and the INS Viraat. The Vikrant (ex-Glory), with a range of 12,000 miles, was
acquired from the United Kingdom in 1957, and the Viraat (ex-Hermes), with a more-
restricted range of 6,500 miles, followed in 1986. Both carriers routinely embark six Sea
Harrier Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) fighters and approximately eight
Sea King Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters. In a wartime scenario, the carriers
can embark 22 and 18 combat aircraft, respectively. Both carriers are ideally suited for
two missions: supporting amphibious operations and conducting ASW. Despite their age
and range considerations, either carrier can effectively project naval and air power
anywhere in the South Asia region. In that only the United States, Britain, France,
Australia, and Russia possess one or more aircraft carriers, these two Indian ships may be
viewed by other nations, especially their Indian Ocean neighbors, as much diplomatic
tools as military ones.4 Since Vikrant is expected to reach the end of its service life prior
to the turn of the century, and Viraat is some 40 years old, India is reportedly pursuing
procurement of at least one additional carrier of similar size. According to a senior

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 1 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

representative of the Indian Navy, “the Indian Navy would like to have a total of two to
four carriers; the question is just mastering the resources.”

Basic types of Aircraft Carrier:

 Amphibious assault ship

 Anti-submarine warfare carrier
 Balloon carrier
 Escort carrier
 Fleet carrier
 Flight deck cruiser
 Helicopter carrier
 Light aircraft carrier
 Sea control ship
 Seaplane tender
 Supercarrier

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 2 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

2.NO. OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER BY OPERATING NATION:

Country In service Under construction

United States 10 3

India 2 1

Italy 2 0

China 1 1

Spain 1 0

France 1 0

Russia 1 0

Brazil 1 0

Thailand 1 0

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 3 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

3. ABOUT INS VIKRANT:

India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-1) for the Indian Navy has been
floated out at state-owned Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) during a ceremony attended
by high-ranking naval officials and ministers. The IAC-1 is a 40,000 tonne air defence
platform and will be named INS Vikrant. Due to delays in the projects, the INS is likely
to enter service only in 2015. Since this India’s first attempt at building a sea-borne
aircraft carrier, a modular construction pattern was being adopted wherein complete
blocks were built off site and then fitted in order to speed up the construction.
The hull of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was floated out of its dry-dock
facility and it was a low key event. Apparently, the dry-dock facility was required for
urgent commercial work at the shipyard and the actual launch is expected to take place a
year from now. The floating ceremony was followed by a review of the progress on the
aircraft carrier and the next course of action to finish the project on time. According to

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 4 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

sources, the project work has missed its deadline due to the delays in construction at the
CSL.
Currently, the indigenous aircraft carrier has taken on about 14,000 tonnes
and the process of interior outfitting will be carried out. This will involve the laying of
pipes before the carrier is dry-docked again in mid-2012. This will be followed by
integration of the propulsion gear-box and generators besides other things. The gas
turbines are also in the process of being installed and the aircraft carrier is still half the
tonnage.
The aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will have an endurance of 8,000 nautical
miles and will be to carry a maximum of 30 aircraft. INS Vikrant will have long-range
surface-to-air missile (LR SAM) systems with a multi-function radar, a close-in weapon
system, the most modern C/D band early air-warning radar and the V/UHF tactical air-
navigational and direction finding systems. The carrier will have two take-off runways
and landing will be done using arrester wires. The ship’s integration with the Indian
Navy’s network-centric operations will provide for force multiplication. The Indian Navy
plans to equip INS Vikrant with a mix of MiG-29K / LCA Naval Variant currently being
developed by state-owned Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). However, due to
delays, an RFI (request for information) has been issued to several global aviation
majors, including American Boeing, French Dassault and Russian MiG companies, for an
alternate deck-based aircraft.
Regarding the delays in the indigenous aircraft project, it has been
established that the delivery of gear boxes and associated systems had retarded the
construction rate. There has also been decline in the supply of steel but the problem was
overcome as Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) and the Steel
Authority of India (SAIL) provided indigenous high-grade steel for the project. The
quality of the gearbox was also sorted with a local Indian firm making the main gear-box
with help from a German firm.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 5 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

4. GENERAL INFORMATION:

Name : INS Vikrant

Owner : Ministry of Defence

Operator : Indian Navy

Builder : Cochin Shipyard Limited

Status : Fitting out

Motto : I Defeat Those Who Fight Against Me (Rig Veda 1.8.3)

Ordered : 2004

Laid down : 28 Feb 2009

Launched : 12 Aug 2013

Displacement : 40,000 tons

Length : 262 m (860 ft.)

Beam : 60 m (200 ft.)

Draught : 8.4 m (28 ft)

Depth : 25.6 m (84 ft)

Engine : 4×General Electric LM 2500+ Gas turbines

Speed : 28 knots (52 Km/h)

Range : 15,000 Km

Crew : 1,400 (Including Air Crew)

Aviation Facility : 10,000 m2 Flight deck

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 6 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

5. LAYOUT OF INS VIKRANT:

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 7 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

6. DESIGN:

INS Vikrant is the first ship of the Vikrant class of aircraft carriers. The name
Vikrant means "courageous" or "bold". It is 262 metres (860 ft) long and 60 metres
(200 ft) wide, and displaces about 40,000 metric tons (39,000 long tons). It features a
Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configuration with a ski-jump. The
deck is designed to enable aircraft such as the MiG-29K to operate from the carrier. It is
expected to carry an air group of up to thirty aircraft, which will include up to 30 fixed-
wing aircraft, primarily the Mikoyan MiG-29K and the naval variant of the HAL Tejas
Mark 2, besides carrying 10 Kamov Ka-31 or Westland Sea King helicopters. The Ka-31
will fulfill the airborne early warning (AEW) role and the Sea King will provide anti-
submarine warfare (ASW) capability.

Figure 1: A schematic diagram of INS Vikrant

Vikrant is powered by four General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines on two

shafts, generating over 80 megawatts (110,000 hp) of power. The gearboxes for the
carriers were designed and supplied by Elecon Engineering.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 8 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

7. CONSTRUCTION:

Vikrant is the first aircraft carrier to be designed by the Directorate of Naval

Design of the Indian Navy and the first warship to be built by Cochin Shipyard. Its
construction involved participation of a large number of private and public firms. The
keel for Vikrant was laid by Defence Minister A.K. Antony at the Cochin Shipyard on 28
February 2009.

The AB/A grade steel which was supposed to be supplied from Russia faced
problems in delivery. To resolve this, the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory
(DMRL) and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) created facilities to manufacture
the steel in India. Reportedly, three special steels for the hull, flight deck and floor
compartments were manufactured at the Bhilai Steel Plant and Rourkela Steel Plant. Due
to this, this is the first ship on the Indian navy to be built completely using domestically-
produced steel. The main switch board, steering gear and water tight hatches have been
manufactured by Larsen and Toubro in Mumbai and Talegaon; high-capacity air
conditioning and refrigeration systems have been manufactured in Kirloskar Group’s
plants in Pune; most pumps have been supplied by Best and Crompton; Bharat Heavy
Electricals (BHEL) supplied the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), which
is being installed by Avio, an Italian company; the gear box was supplied by Elecon; and
the electrical cables are being supplied by Nicco Industries. The ship uses modular
construction, with 874 blocks joined together for the hull. By the time the keel was laid,
423 blocks weighing over 8,000 tons had been completed. The construction plan called
for the carrier to be launched in 2010, when it would displace some 20,000 tonnes, as a
larger displacement could not be accommodated in the building bay. It was planned that
after about a year's development in the refit dock, the carrier would be launched when all
the major components, including underwater systems, would be in place. Outfitting
would then be carried out after launch. As per the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS),
sea trials were initially planned to commence in 2013, with the ship to be commissioned
in 2014.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 9 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

In March 2012, it was reported that the project had been affected by the delay
in the delivery of the main gearboxes for the carrier. The supplier, Elecon Engineering,
attributed it to having to work around a number of technical complexities due to the
length of the propulsion shafts. Other issues resulting in delays included an accident with
a diesel generator and an issue with its alignment. In August 2011, the defence ministry
reported to the Lok Sabha that 75% of the construction work for the hull of the lead
carrier had been completed and the carrier would be first launched in December 2011,
following which further works would be completed until commissioning. On 29
December 2011, the completed hull of the carrier was first floated out of its dry dock at
CSL, with its displacement at over 14,000 tonnes. Interior works and fittings on the hull
would be carried out until the second half of 2012, when it would again be dry-docked
for integration with its propulsion and power generation systems.

In July 2012, The Times of India reported that construction of Vikrant has
been delayed by three years, and the ship would be ready for commissioning by 2017.
Later, in November 2012, NDTV reported that cost of the aircraft carrier had increased
and the delivery has been delayed by at least five years and is expected to be with the
Indian Navy only after 2018 as against the scheduled date of delivery of 2014. Work has
begun for next stage which includes installation of the integrated propulsion system, the
superstructure, the upper decks, the cabling, sensors and weapons.

ENGINE:

As the Navy proceeds into the twenty first century, gas turbine ships will
become more and more abundant. GE's highly-successful, well-proven LM2500
aeroderivative gas turbine is directly derived from GE's CF6 family of commercial
aircraft engines and GE's TF39 military engine. The CF6 family is used on DC-10, MD-
11, A300, 747 and 767 aircraft, which have logged millions of flight hours. The TF39
military engine is employed on the U.S. Air Force's Galaxy C-5A/B transport aircraft.
Currently more than 870 LM2500 gas turbines are in service on a variety of cruisers,
frigates, destroyers and patrol boats for more than 24 international navies.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 10 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

In early applications, the LM2500 was rated at 21,500 bhp for the U.S.
Navy's DD 963 and DDG 993 class destroyers, the CG 47 class cruisers, and the FFG 7
class frigates. General Electric uprated the LM2500 to 26,250 bhp for the DDG-51
destroyers and the AOE 6 class fast combat support ships. Each DDG-51 ship is powered
by four LM2500 gas turbines which are in a combined gas and gas (COGAG)
configuration. Each reduction gear combines the input of two LM2500 engines rated at
26,250 brake horsepower (bhp) for a total output of 105,000 bhp per ship. The LM2500
was again uprated in 1993 for use on the US Navy's newest Sealift gas turbine-powered
ships. The uprate increased the LM2500 U.S. Navy military specification rating to 29,500
bhp, with the engine actually being rated at 32,000 bhp in the Sealift ships.
The LM2500+ is an uprated version of LM2500 which provides lower
installed dollar per horsepower and life-cycle costs than the LM2500. The 3600 rpm
LM2500+ has been designed for 39,000 brake horsepower (bhp) with a simple cycle
thermal efficiency of 39% at ISO conditions. The LM2500+ achieves increased power
over the LM2500 primarily by increasing the compressor airflow 23%, with a minimal
increase in combustor firing temperature by adding a compression stage (zero stage) to
the front of the LM2500 compressor. The temperature capability of the hot section was
also increased by adding a thermal barrier coating to the combustor, upgrading turbine
airfoil materials and by improving internal cooling designs.

The LM2500 gas turbines drives controllable pitch propellers through a

conventional main reduction gear, shaft and clutch. A 16 stage axial flow (air travel is
parallel to the shaft) compressor increases the pressure and temperature of the working
mass (air). In the combustor section, fuel is added through fuel nozzles and combustion
occurs. A two stage high pressure turbine on the exhaust end of the combustor drives the
compressor. The combination of the compressor, combustor, and high pressure turbine
are often called the gas generator. The exhaust from the high pressure turbine passes
through a low pressure turbine which extracts the work required to drive the main
reduction gear and ultimately the ship's propeller. The LM2500 module totally encloses
the LM2500 to provide thermal and acoustic insulation. A top hatch and a side door

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 11 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

(DD/DDG/CG) or two side doors (FFG) provide access to and viewing of the engine. The
module is shock mounted to reduce hull-borne noise transmission.

LM2500 Gas Turbine Engine has a 16 stage axial flow compressor made up
of a 16 stage Compressor rotor of moving blades driven by the high pressure turbine. The
Compressor stator casing contains one stage of Inlet Guide Vanes (IGV), six stages of
Variable Stator Vanes (VSV) and 10 stages of stationary stator vanes. The IGVs and
stator vanes 1-6 are variable, meaning they are variable geometry. The angle of attack of
the blades can be changed to prevent compressor stall. Bleed air is extracted from the
compressor for use in the ship's bleed air system and for internal use in the engine.

The combustor is an annular type with 30 fuel nozzles and 2 spark ignitors.
Of the air from the compressor approximately 30% is mixed with fuel to support
combustion. The other 70% is used to cool and center the flame within the combustion
liner.
The ignition system produces a high intensity spark to ignite the fuel/air
mixture during the start sequence. Once the engine is started the ignitors are no longer
needed and will be de-energized.
High pressure turbine section extracts enough energy from the hot expanding
gasses to drive the compressor and accessory drive. The HP turbine is a two stage axial
flow type which is mechanically coupled to the compressor rotor. The HP turbine uses
approximately 65% of the thermal energy from the combustor to drive the compressor
and engine mounted accessories.

The accessory drive assembly is driven through the compressor rotor shaft
via the inlet gearbox, radial drive shaft, and transfer gearbox. The Accessory gearbox
provides mounting for the fuel pump, lube oil pump, air/oil separator, and pneumatic
starter.

The power turbine is a six stage axial flow type turbine. The power turbine
extracts the remaining 35% of useable energy and uses this to drive the main reduction
gear. The power turbine drives the reduction gear through a high speed flexible coupling

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 12 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

shaft and clutch assembly. The high speed flexible coupling absorbs the radial and axial
misalignment between the GTM and the main reduction gear.

Foriegn Object Damage (FOD) is a major concern of gas turbine engines.

FOD is simply debris of one form or other which can damage the internal components of
a gas turbine engine. Propulsion and electrical generation turbines are no different than
aircraft engines and the hazard FOD represents to the operation of these engines demands
the attention of all personnel. On a flight deck periodic "FOD Walkdowns" keep the
operating areas clear of debris. For shipboard engines FOD screens, wire mesh moisture
separators, and if operating in a high air particulate environment "Scott" foam pads are
used to filter incoming air and keep the engine operating.

An advantage of a gas turbine engine is its ability to be removed from the

ship for repair in a short period of time (approximately 72 hours). A set of rails is
permanently installed in the intakes of each engine and a set of temporarily installed
transition rails allow the disconnected engine to transit from its mounting attachments in
the module onto the rails in the intakes. Crane service capable of extending over the soft
patches in the intakes is required to pull the engine up the rails and out of the ship

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 13 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

8. AIRCRAFTS:

The flight deck will feature two take off runways and a landing strip
equipped with three arrester wires. The STOBAR (Short Take Off But Arrested
Recovery) system on an angled flight deck is used to launch and recover an aircraft from
deck of an aircraft carrier. IAC-2 will be fitted with steam catapults rather than STOBAR
to launch 4th generation aircraft. The aircraft carrier can accommodate upto 30 aircrafts. It
will have adequate hanger and maintenance facilities for aircraft on board.

Aircraft carrier by INS Vikrant:

 Mikoyan MiG 29
 HAL Tejas
 Kamov Ka 31
 Westland Sea King
 HAL Dhruv

Mikoyan MiG 29:

The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft designed in the

Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter
during the 1970s, the MiG-29, along with the larger Sukhoi Su-27, was developed to
counter new American fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, and the
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The MiG-29 entered service with the Soviet Air
Force in 1982.

India was the first international customer of the MiG-29. The Indian Air
Force (IAF) placed an order for more than 50 MiG-29s in 1980 while the aircraft was still
in its initial development phase. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has
undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems,
turbofan engines and radars.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 14 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

Indian MiG-29s were used extensively during the 1999 Kargil War in
Kashmir by the Indian Air Force to provide fighter escort for Mirage 2000s, which were
attacking targets with laser-guided bombs. According to Indian sources, two MiG-29s
from the IAF's No. 47 squadron (Black Archers) gained missile lock on two F-16s of the
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) which were patrolling close to the border to prevent any
incursions by Indian aircraft, but did not engage them because no official declaration of
war had been issued. The Indian MiG-29s were armed with beyond-visual-range air-to-
air missiles whereas the Pakistani F-16s were not

HAL Tejas:
The HAL Tejas is an Indian single-seat, single-jet engine, multi-role light
fighter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is a tailless, compound delta
wing design powered by a single engine. It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. Later,
the LCA was officially named "Tejas", meaning "Radiant" by the then Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Tejas has a pure double delta wing configuration (wing root
leading edge sweep 50°, outer wing leading edge sweep 62.5° and trailing edge forward
sweep 4°), with no tailplanes or canard, and a single dorsal fin. It integrates technologies
such as relaxed static stability, fly-by-wire flight control system, multi-mode radar,
integrated digital avionics system, composite material structures, and a flat rated engine.
It is supersonic and highly maneuverable, and is the smallest and lightest in its class of
contemporary combat aircraft. The Tejas is the second supersonic fighter developed by
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after the HAL HF-24 Marut. The Indian Air Force
(IAF) was reported to have a requirement for 200 single-seat and 20 two-seat conversion
trainers, while the Indian Navy might order up to 40 single-seaters to replace its Sea
Harrier FRS.51 and Harrier T.60. The Tejas was cleared in January 2011 for use by
Indian Air Force pilots. It received the second of three levels of operational clearance on
20 December 2013. On 17 January 2015, the first Tejas LCA was officially inducted into
the IAF, with final operational clearance (FOC) expected by late 2015. The first Tejas
squadron to be based at Coimbatore is scheduled to enter service by 2017-2018.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 15 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

Kamov Ka 31:
The Kamov Ka-31 is a military helicopter developed for the Soviet Navy and
currently in service in Russia, China and India in the naval airborne early warning and
control role.

As with all Kamov helicopters except the Ka-60/-62 family, the Ka-31 has
co-axially mounted contra-rotating main rotors. The airframe of the Ka-31 is based on the
Kamov Ka-27. One visually distinctive feature of the Ka-31 is the large antenna of the
early-warning radar, which is either rotating or folded and stowed under the fuselage. The
second is the reduction of the bulky electro-optical sensory suite beneath the cockpit. The
landing gear retracts in order to prevent interference with the radar.

Some of the engineering changes from Ka-29 are, the change in powerplant,
the addition of the APUs and most importantly the secondary Hydraulic system. The
radar is the E-801M OKO ("EYE") planar array radar designed by the Nizhny Novgorod
Radio Engineering Institute.

The operational variants delivered also had a Flight Information Recorder

designed by the St.Petersburg/Leningrad Electrotechnical Institute, fitted in the tailcone.
By the time the Yak-44 was canceled, additional responsibility of Command & control
fell into the KA-29RLD/Ka-31's hands

Westland Sea King:

The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the
American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The
aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome
engines (derived from the US General Electric T58), British-made anti-submarine
warfare systems and a fully computerised flight control system. The Sea King was
primarily designed for performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. A Sea King
variant was adapted by Westland as troop transport known as the Commando

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 16 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

Following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Pakistan invested heavily in

modern submarines and long-range torpedoes. In response, India opted to procure six
Westland Sea Kings from Britain in 1969, for ASW duties, designated as Mk42. The
purchase also included the provision of air-droppable homing torpedoes for use against
submarines. The delivery of the aircraft began a few months before the Indo-Pakistani
War of 1971. Due to training shortfalls on the new helicopters, Sea King operations were
considerably restricted during the 1971 war; by November 1971, increased aircrew
experience had enabled offensive anti-submarine operations to be conducted. The
Majestic class aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was also refitted in 1972–1974 to enable
extensive Sea King operations, becoming the carrier's primary anti-submarine aircraft

HAL Dhruv:

The HAL Dhruv is a utility helicopter developed and manufactured by India's

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The development of the Dhruv was first
announced in November 1984, and it was subsequently designed with assistance from
MBB in Germany. The helicopter first flew in 1992; however, its development was
prolonged due to multiple factors including the Indian Army's requirement for design
changes, budget restrictions, and sanctions placed on India following the 1998 Pokhran-II
nuclear tests.

The Dhruv entered service in 2002. It is designed to meet the requirement of

both military and civil operators, with military variants of the helicopter being developed
for the Indian Armed Forces, while a variant for civilian/commercial use has also been
developed. The helicopter was first exported to Nepal and Israel. It is also on order with
several other countries for both military and commercial uses.

Military versions in production include transport, utility, reconnaissance and

medical evacuation variants. Based on the Dhruv platform, the HAL Light Combat
Helicopter (LCH) a dedicated attack helicopter and HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH),

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 17 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

a utility and observation helicopter, are currently being developed. As of August 2013,
more than 200 HAL Dhruv have been produced for different customers.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 18 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

9. WEAPON SYSTEM:

The aircraft carrier will be fitted with a vertical launch system for long-range
surface-to-air missiles. A close-in weapon system will provide self-defence for the ship
against incoming anti-ship missiles and aircraft. Four OTO Melera 76mm Super Rapid
guns - two on the bow section and two at the stern side – will be fitted. They can fire 120
rounds a minute at a range of 30,000m.

10. LAUNCH OF INS VIKRANT:

In July 2013, former Defence Minister A. K. Antony announced that Vikrant

would be launched on 12 August at the Cochin Shipyard. The ship was launched by his
wife, Elizabeth Antony, on 12 August 2013. Extensive sea trials are expected to begin in
2016 and the ship will be inducted into the navy by late 2018.

According to Admiral Robin Dhowan, about 83% of the fabrication work and
75% of the construction work was complete. He said that 90% of the body work of the
aircraft carrier had been designed and made in India, about 50% of the propulsion system,
and about 30% of its weaponry. He also said that the ship would be equipped with a long
range missile system with multi-function radar and a close-in weapon system (CIWS).
After the launch, Vikrant was re-docked for the second phase of construction, in which
the ship will be fitted with various weapons and sensors, and the propulsion system, flight
deck and the aircraft complex will be integrated. In December 2014 it was reported that
Vikrant will be commissioned by 2018.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 19 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

11. CONCLUSION:

After the completion of this seminar, I come across vast knowledge in the
field of Aircraft Carriers. Their construction, importance & utilization are the things
I have thoroughly studied and understood.
Hence I studied all the aspects of INS Vikrant which includes design,
construction, engine etc. and also I got general information about aircrafts which are
present on INS Vikrant.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 20 of 21

 INS VIKRANT

12. REFERANCE:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Vikrant_(2013)
 http://www.defencenow.com/news/449/india-floats-out-its-first-indigenous-
aircraft-carrier-ins-vikrant-from-cochin.html
 http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/lm2500.htm

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, D.Y.P.C.E.T., KOLHAPUR Page 21 of 21