A sneak peek into Indian Navy's 40,000 tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-1 - See pics

With a displacement of over 40,000 tonnes, the IAC-1 dwarfs all other warships that the Indian Navy operates and weighs nearly 8 times more than a normal warship.

 

Designed by the Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design(DND) and built by India’s state-run Cochin Shipyard Limited, the Indigenous Aircraft carrier is the country’s most prestigious military project to date. 

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

Courtesy of the Indian Navy, Zee Media boarded a Sea King chopper from India’s Southern Naval Command Headquarters and headed for the high seas, flying over Kochi city.

 

While large ships and fishing boats dotted the coast for a considerable part, thereafter, it was a vast expanse of blue. Amid this endless horizon, there emerged a gigantic and distinct mass of grey metal, majestically cruising through, with several smaller Navy vessels flanking it.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

The carrier is 262 meters long, 62 meters wide and nearly 18 storeys tall.

 

On its frontal region, IAC-1 features two take-off axes (150 meters and 200 meters long) meant for fighter jets. The aft (rear portion) of the carrier has a landing strip for fighter aircraft.

 

Besides these, the deck also has multiple areas marked for the landing of choppers.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

A typical airport runway is anywhere between 2-3 kms, so how does a floating airport with barely 200 meters of runway enable fighter jet take-off? 

 

Aircraft wheels are held back by restraining blocks, during which the pilots rev the engines to full power. At the opportune moment, the restraining blocks that hold back the aircraft from taking-off are released.

 

The 20-ton fighter aircraft zooms past the 200-meter runway in a matter of seconds and soars into the sky after leaping off the Ski-jump that can be seen at the front end of the carrier.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, senior officials visited the carrier as it underwent its second phase of sea trials off Kochi.

The Minister lauded Cochin Shipyard limited and Indian private industry for their contribution in realizing such a magnificent ship.

 

The Navy Chief said that the sea trials were going extremely well and that the Navy hoped to Commission the carrier by August 2022

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

IAC-1 is meant to carry 1,700 crew and has 2,300 compartments spread across its decks.

 

Here's a caution from the Indian Navy, "If you’ve spent anything less than three months on the carrier, you’re sure to lose your way!"

 

It, indeed, is a city at sea.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

Missiles, bombs and armaments protect the aircraft from its enemies. But, while on board, the aircraft hangar protects the aircraft and choppers from the harsh elements and inclement weather.

  Operating a floating airbase at sea requires immense resources to store, service, maintain, aircraft and ensure high availability. The aircraft hangar that spans the entire length of the ship, is where the flights are stored during harsh weather and during times of their service and maintenance.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

If you have a floating airfield, you better have a floating Air Traffic Controller - the Flight Command AKA FlyCo. The Flight Command plans, controls, and facilitates the take-off, landing, operations, arming, de-arming, positioning etc of all aircraft onboard the Carrier.

 

The Flyco is also responsible for the flight operations of all choppers on board the accompanying ships (part of the carrier battle group). Flyco also has the best and most panoramic view of the ship’s Flight deck.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

The ship control centre takes care of the air conditioning, refrigeration, water purification and several other important functions.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

All of that electricity is diverted to various systems and subsystems of the ship from the Electric Switchboard room.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

The generators onboard the carrier produces enough electricity to cater to the needs of the city of Kochi, where the carrier was built.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

The engines, their operating temperature and pressure and the vessel’s propulsion are controlled from the engine room.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)

This gigantic carrier is propelled by 4x LM-2500 Gas turbines that produce 90MW of power.

 

IAC-1 uses license-built Indian versions of the LM-2550.

 

Originally developed by General Electric, USA, the gas turbines used on IAC are are built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India.

 

(Photo: Zee Media's Sidharth MP)