Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, the biggest ship ever built in Indian maritime history, on Friday, calling it an example of the government’s push to make India’s defence sector self-sufficient.
“With Vikrant, India joins a narrow group of nations that can indigenously build aircraft carriers. INS Vikrant is more than a combat machine; it is exceptional and unique,” Modi added.
With this, India joins a narrow group of countries capable of designing and building aircraft carriers. India has joined a group that includes the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France.
With this new acquisition, India will have two aircraft carriers, and the Navy hopes to add another naval power projector to protect the nation on all three flanks — the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean.
Currently, the United States has 11 aircraft carriers, while India, China, Italy, and the United Kingdom each have two, and Russia, France, and Spain each have one.
The new aircraft carrier, which has cutting-edge automation systems, was built at the Cochin Shipyard for Rs 20,000 crore. “The INS Vikrant is a floating airfield and settlement. It generates enough power to light up 5,000 homes “Modi took note.
“When Bharat chooses, no objective is impossible to attain, no matter how difficult the aim is, no matter how huge the difficulties are,” Modi remarked.
With the unveiling of the new Naval Ensign (Nishaan), Modi stated that the country had abandoned its colonial heritage.”Until today, Indian Naval banners held a symbol of slavery, which has now been replaced by a new one inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Modi stated.
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