Indian Navy Gets First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

The Indian navy will take delivery of its first indigenous aircraft carrier on August 12, making India only the fifth country in the world with the capability.

Designed by the Indian Navy's design organisation and it is being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.

The aircraft carrier will have two take-off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires capable of operating a STOBAR (short take off but arrested delivery) aircraft mix including the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, the MiG-29K combat jets and a range of helicopters, according to reports.

"The carrier will be equipped with a long range surface-to-air missiles (LR SAM) system with multi-function radar and close-in weapons system (CIWS)," a spokesperson was quoted as saying.

The carrier will be redocked at Cochin Shipyard, after its launch, to erect the superstructure and complete the remained underwater installations.

According to the spokesperson, major outfitting work will be completed by 2016, after which extensive sea trials will be conducted. The carrier is expected to be delivered to the navy in 2018, he added.