Yojana Magazine November 2022 - 3 | Monthly Yojana & Kurukshetra Magazine (English) - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


YOJANA   November 2022 39
AIRCRAfT CARRIeRS
ircraft carriers are extremely strong and 
have powerful weapons. Their military 
capabilities, which include carrier-borne 
aircraft, have completely changed the 
marine domain. An aircraft carrier offers a wide range of 
strategic benefits. It offers incredibly flexible operational 
options. Surveillance, air defence, airborne early warning, 
protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), and 
anti-submarine warfare are some of its principal functions.
For India, the carrier battlegroup, with its inherent 
combat elements and firepower, becomes a key capability 
to establish effective air dominance and efficient sea 
control.
History of Aircraft Carriers in India
Right from its Independence, India was well aware of 
the need for aircraft carriers to establish itself as a blue 
water navy. Since the sixties, the Indian Navy has had 
the unique distinction of operating all variants of aircraft 
launch and recovery systems.
INS Vikrant (R11)- India’s First Aircraft Carrier
The INS Vikrant was launched on September 22, 1945 
as Hercules. However, its construction was stalled and was 
completed when India purchased it from Britain in 1957. 
On March 04, 1961 it was commissioned as Vikrant in its 
first avatar. It was placed under the command of Captain 
Sailing Through the History
Pritam Singh Mahindroo. On March 05, 1961, Vikrant 
sailed from Belfast for Portsmouth and Portland to carry 
out sea trials, and on October 06, 1961, Vikrant finally 
sailed for India. It entered Bombay on November 03, 1961.
The 19,500-tonne Carrier, INS Vikrant was the first 
ever carrier for an Asian country and remained so for a 
long time. Soon after its commissioning, the INS Vikrant 
saw action during the Goa Liberation Operation in 1961.
It played a crucial role in the 1971 war with its aircrafts 
decimating the enemy. The Sea Hawks and Alizés pounded 
the enemy targets over Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Khulna 
A
INS Vikrant
Page 2


YOJANA   November 2022 39
AIRCRAfT CARRIeRS
ircraft carriers are extremely strong and 
have powerful weapons. Their military 
capabilities, which include carrier-borne 
aircraft, have completely changed the 
marine domain. An aircraft carrier offers a wide range of 
strategic benefits. It offers incredibly flexible operational 
options. Surveillance, air defence, airborne early warning, 
protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), and 
anti-submarine warfare are some of its principal functions.
For India, the carrier battlegroup, with its inherent 
combat elements and firepower, becomes a key capability 
to establish effective air dominance and efficient sea 
control.
History of Aircraft Carriers in India
Right from its Independence, India was well aware of 
the need for aircraft carriers to establish itself as a blue 
water navy. Since the sixties, the Indian Navy has had 
the unique distinction of operating all variants of aircraft 
launch and recovery systems.
INS Vikrant (R11)- India’s First Aircraft Carrier
The INS Vikrant was launched on September 22, 1945 
as Hercules. However, its construction was stalled and was 
completed when India purchased it from Britain in 1957. 
On March 04, 1961 it was commissioned as Vikrant in its 
first avatar. It was placed under the command of Captain 
Sailing Through the History
Pritam Singh Mahindroo. On March 05, 1961, Vikrant 
sailed from Belfast for Portsmouth and Portland to carry 
out sea trials, and on October 06, 1961, Vikrant finally 
sailed for India. It entered Bombay on November 03, 1961.
The 19,500-tonne Carrier, INS Vikrant was the first 
ever carrier for an Asian country and remained so for a 
long time. Soon after its commissioning, the INS Vikrant 
saw action during the Goa Liberation Operation in 1961.
It played a crucial role in the 1971 war with its aircrafts 
decimating the enemy. The Sea Hawks and Alizés pounded 
the enemy targets over Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Khulna 
A
INS Vikrant
40 YOJANA   November 2022
and Mongla. Heavy damage was inflicted on the ships and 
harbour installations. The runways at the first two places 
were rendered inoperable, and along with other units of the 
fleet, Vikrant ensured a total blockade off East Pakistan. 
The INS Vikrant helped in preventing reinforcement 
of Pakistani forces from the sea, leading to the birth of 
Bangladesh.
The INS Vikrant emerged in a new avatar as a V ertical/ 
Short Take Off and Land (V/STOL) carrier in 1984, with 
the brand new, state-of-the-art aircraft Sea Harrier. Its new 
capability inspired the induction of INS Vikramaditya, and 
the plans of its reincarnation. After serving for 36 years, 
it was decommissioned from active service on 31 January 
1997.
1
INS Viraat- Over 30 Years of Service to the Nation
INS Viraat was originally commissioned by the British 
Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959. It 
served the Royal Navy in three different avatars- 1959-
1970: as the Strike Carrier, 1970-1980- as a Commando 
Anti-Submarine Warfare Carrier, and 1980 onwards it was 
a V/STOL Carrier, for which it underwent major structural 
modifications. This included a 12-degree ramp designed to 
optimally launch Sea Harrier Operations.
In 1982, Hermes saw action in the Falklands under the 
command of Captain Middleton where she distinguished 
herself as the Flagship of the Royal Navy in the campaign 
to regain Falklands and South Georgia from Argentina. 
The 74-day war in hostile weather saw the Sea Harriers 
undertake 2376 sorties and shoot down 20 enemy aircrafts 
with the loss of two Sea Harriers to enemy ground fire.
The Indian Navy, in need of a second aircraft carrier, 
acquired the HMS Hermes on April 24, 1986. INS Viraat 
was finally commissioned by the Indian Navy on 12 May 
1987. After acing a set of tests and trials, on July 23, 1987 it 
sailed from Plymouth to India, reaching the Indian waters 
on 21 August 1987. It was 227 metres long and 49 metres 
wide and had a full load displacement of 28,700 tons.
INS Viraat’s first major operation was ‘Operation 
Jupiter’ in July 1989 as part of Peace Keeping Operations 
in Sri Lanka, following the breakdown of the Indo- 
Sri Lankan Accord of 1986. On July 27, 1989, the ship 
flew 76 helicopter sorties off Kochi to board more than 
350 soldiers and more than 35 tonnes of supplies for 
the 7 Garhwal Rifles. The INS Viraat and its task group 
continued to be stationed out in the field for the next two 
weeks, using the opportunity to train soldiers, proving the 
Viraat’s operational adaptability.
It also played a pivotal role in Operation Parakram, 
which was carried out in the wake of the 2001 terrorist 
attack on the Indian Parliament. By establishing a blockade 
against Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War, the INS Viraat 
also played a crucial part in Operation Vijay. The ship has 
additionally taken part in a number of foreign joint exercises, 
including Malabar (with the US Navy), Varuna (with 
the French Navy), and Naseem-Al-Bahr (with the Oman 
Navy), as well as being a crucial component of every year's 
INS Viraat
Page 3


YOJANA   November 2022 39
AIRCRAfT CARRIeRS
ircraft carriers are extremely strong and 
have powerful weapons. Their military 
capabilities, which include carrier-borne 
aircraft, have completely changed the 
marine domain. An aircraft carrier offers a wide range of 
strategic benefits. It offers incredibly flexible operational 
options. Surveillance, air defence, airborne early warning, 
protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), and 
anti-submarine warfare are some of its principal functions.
For India, the carrier battlegroup, with its inherent 
combat elements and firepower, becomes a key capability 
to establish effective air dominance and efficient sea 
control.
History of Aircraft Carriers in India
Right from its Independence, India was well aware of 
the need for aircraft carriers to establish itself as a blue 
water navy. Since the sixties, the Indian Navy has had 
the unique distinction of operating all variants of aircraft 
launch and recovery systems.
INS Vikrant (R11)- India’s First Aircraft Carrier
The INS Vikrant was launched on September 22, 1945 
as Hercules. However, its construction was stalled and was 
completed when India purchased it from Britain in 1957. 
On March 04, 1961 it was commissioned as Vikrant in its 
first avatar. It was placed under the command of Captain 
Sailing Through the History
Pritam Singh Mahindroo. On March 05, 1961, Vikrant 
sailed from Belfast for Portsmouth and Portland to carry 
out sea trials, and on October 06, 1961, Vikrant finally 
sailed for India. It entered Bombay on November 03, 1961.
The 19,500-tonne Carrier, INS Vikrant was the first 
ever carrier for an Asian country and remained so for a 
long time. Soon after its commissioning, the INS Vikrant 
saw action during the Goa Liberation Operation in 1961.
It played a crucial role in the 1971 war with its aircrafts 
decimating the enemy. The Sea Hawks and Alizés pounded 
the enemy targets over Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Khulna 
A
INS Vikrant
40 YOJANA   November 2022
and Mongla. Heavy damage was inflicted on the ships and 
harbour installations. The runways at the first two places 
were rendered inoperable, and along with other units of the 
fleet, Vikrant ensured a total blockade off East Pakistan. 
The INS Vikrant helped in preventing reinforcement 
of Pakistani forces from the sea, leading to the birth of 
Bangladesh.
The INS Vikrant emerged in a new avatar as a V ertical/ 
Short Take Off and Land (V/STOL) carrier in 1984, with 
the brand new, state-of-the-art aircraft Sea Harrier. Its new 
capability inspired the induction of INS Vikramaditya, and 
the plans of its reincarnation. After serving for 36 years, 
it was decommissioned from active service on 31 January 
1997.
1
INS Viraat- Over 30 Years of Service to the Nation
INS Viraat was originally commissioned by the British 
Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959. It 
served the Royal Navy in three different avatars- 1959-
1970: as the Strike Carrier, 1970-1980- as a Commando 
Anti-Submarine Warfare Carrier, and 1980 onwards it was 
a V/STOL Carrier, for which it underwent major structural 
modifications. This included a 12-degree ramp designed to 
optimally launch Sea Harrier Operations.
In 1982, Hermes saw action in the Falklands under the 
command of Captain Middleton where she distinguished 
herself as the Flagship of the Royal Navy in the campaign 
to regain Falklands and South Georgia from Argentina. 
The 74-day war in hostile weather saw the Sea Harriers 
undertake 2376 sorties and shoot down 20 enemy aircrafts 
with the loss of two Sea Harriers to enemy ground fire.
The Indian Navy, in need of a second aircraft carrier, 
acquired the HMS Hermes on April 24, 1986. INS Viraat 
was finally commissioned by the Indian Navy on 12 May 
1987. After acing a set of tests and trials, on July 23, 1987 it 
sailed from Plymouth to India, reaching the Indian waters 
on 21 August 1987. It was 227 metres long and 49 metres 
wide and had a full load displacement of 28,700 tons.
INS Viraat’s first major operation was ‘Operation 
Jupiter’ in July 1989 as part of Peace Keeping Operations 
in Sri Lanka, following the breakdown of the Indo- 
Sri Lankan Accord of 1986. On July 27, 1989, the ship 
flew 76 helicopter sorties off Kochi to board more than 
350 soldiers and more than 35 tonnes of supplies for 
the 7 Garhwal Rifles. The INS Viraat and its task group 
continued to be stationed out in the field for the next two 
weeks, using the opportunity to train soldiers, proving the 
Viraat’s operational adaptability.
It also played a pivotal role in Operation Parakram, 
which was carried out in the wake of the 2001 terrorist 
attack on the Indian Parliament. By establishing a blockade 
against Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War, the INS Viraat 
also played a crucial part in Operation Vijay. The ship has 
additionally taken part in a number of foreign joint exercises, 
including Malabar (with the US Navy), Varuna (with 
the French Navy), and Naseem-Al-Bahr (with the Oman 
Navy), as well as being a crucial component of every year's 
INS Viraat
YOJANA   November 2022 41
Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX). The ship's 
last operational deployment was in February 2016 when it 
took part in the International Fleet Review (IFR-2016) at 
Visakhapatnam.
The INS Viraat has played a pivotal role in 
spearheading India’s maritime resurgence. Since 1987, the 
ship’s deck launched 22,034 hours of flying, it spent 2,250 
days at sea sailing over 5.8 lakh Nautical Miles. It was 
decommissioned from service on March 06, 2017.
INS Vikramaditya- Indian Navy’s Biggest Ship
Russia’s refurbished Admiral Gorshkov was 
commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya at 
Severodvinsk, Russia on November 16, 2013. It is a state-
of-the-art ship, capable of operating a versatile range of 
high-performance aircrafts, such as the MiG 29K fighters, 
KM 31 AEW helicopters, multi-role Seakings and utility 
Chetaks. The ship is over 285 meters long and 60 meters 
wide, making it the biggest ship in the Indian Navy. Her 23 
decks scale a height of 60 meters.
With over 1,600 personnel on board, INS Vikramaditya 
is literally a ‘Floating City’. With a capacity of over 8,000 
tonnes of Low Sulphur High-Speed Diesel (LSHSD), she 
is capable of operations up to a range of over 7,000 nautical 
miles or 13000 kms. The ship has the ability to carry over 
30 aircrafts, comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea 
Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and 
Chetak helicopters. The MiG 29K swing role fighter is the 
main offensive platform and provides a quantum jump for 
the Indian Navy’s maritime strike capability. These fourth-
generation air superiority fighters provide a significant 
fillip for the Indian Navy with a range of over 700 nm and 
an array of weapons including anti-ship missiles, Beyond 
Visual Range air-to-air missiles, guided bombs and rockets. 
The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art launch and 
recovery systems along with aids to enable smooth and 
efficient operation of ship-borne aircraft. Major systems 
include the LUNA Landing system for MiGs, DAPS 
Landing system for Sea Harriers and Flight deck lighting 
systems.
INS Vikrant (IAC-1): The Self-Reliant Rebirth
The 262-metre-long carrier has a full displacement of 
close to 45,000 tonnes which is much larger and advanced 
than her predecessor. The ship is powered by four Gas 
Turbines totaling 88 MW power and has a maximum speed 
of 28 Knots. Built at an overall cost of close to Rs. 20,000 
crores, the project has been progressed in three Phases 
of contract between MoD and CSL. It has an overall 
indigenous content of 76%.
Vikrant has been built with a high degree of automation 
for machinery operation, ship navigation, and survivability, 
and has been designed to accommodate an assortment of 
fixed- wing and rotary aircraft. The ship would be capable 
of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising 
of MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role 
helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured 
Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat 
Aircraft (LCA) (Navy). Using a novel aircraft operation 
mode known as STOBAR (Short Take-Off but Arrested 
Landing), the IAC is equipped with a ski-jump for 
launching aircraft, and a set of ‘arrester wires’ for their 
recovery onboard.                                                              ?
Sources
1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1845871
2. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=151118
3. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=100633
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGIRJtfOjGA
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcwVGfCqVVE&t=687s INS Vikramaditya
INS Vikrant (IAC-1)
Page 4


YOJANA   November 2022 39
AIRCRAfT CARRIeRS
ircraft carriers are extremely strong and 
have powerful weapons. Their military 
capabilities, which include carrier-borne 
aircraft, have completely changed the 
marine domain. An aircraft carrier offers a wide range of 
strategic benefits. It offers incredibly flexible operational 
options. Surveillance, air defence, airborne early warning, 
protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), and 
anti-submarine warfare are some of its principal functions.
For India, the carrier battlegroup, with its inherent 
combat elements and firepower, becomes a key capability 
to establish effective air dominance and efficient sea 
control.
History of Aircraft Carriers in India
Right from its Independence, India was well aware of 
the need for aircraft carriers to establish itself as a blue 
water navy. Since the sixties, the Indian Navy has had 
the unique distinction of operating all variants of aircraft 
launch and recovery systems.
INS Vikrant (R11)- India’s First Aircraft Carrier
The INS Vikrant was launched on September 22, 1945 
as Hercules. However, its construction was stalled and was 
completed when India purchased it from Britain in 1957. 
On March 04, 1961 it was commissioned as Vikrant in its 
first avatar. It was placed under the command of Captain 
Sailing Through the History
Pritam Singh Mahindroo. On March 05, 1961, Vikrant 
sailed from Belfast for Portsmouth and Portland to carry 
out sea trials, and on October 06, 1961, Vikrant finally 
sailed for India. It entered Bombay on November 03, 1961.
The 19,500-tonne Carrier, INS Vikrant was the first 
ever carrier for an Asian country and remained so for a 
long time. Soon after its commissioning, the INS Vikrant 
saw action during the Goa Liberation Operation in 1961.
It played a crucial role in the 1971 war with its aircrafts 
decimating the enemy. The Sea Hawks and Alizés pounded 
the enemy targets over Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Khulna 
A
INS Vikrant
40 YOJANA   November 2022
and Mongla. Heavy damage was inflicted on the ships and 
harbour installations. The runways at the first two places 
were rendered inoperable, and along with other units of the 
fleet, Vikrant ensured a total blockade off East Pakistan. 
The INS Vikrant helped in preventing reinforcement 
of Pakistani forces from the sea, leading to the birth of 
Bangladesh.
The INS Vikrant emerged in a new avatar as a V ertical/ 
Short Take Off and Land (V/STOL) carrier in 1984, with 
the brand new, state-of-the-art aircraft Sea Harrier. Its new 
capability inspired the induction of INS Vikramaditya, and 
the plans of its reincarnation. After serving for 36 years, 
it was decommissioned from active service on 31 January 
1997.
1
INS Viraat- Over 30 Years of Service to the Nation
INS Viraat was originally commissioned by the British 
Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959. It 
served the Royal Navy in three different avatars- 1959-
1970: as the Strike Carrier, 1970-1980- as a Commando 
Anti-Submarine Warfare Carrier, and 1980 onwards it was 
a V/STOL Carrier, for which it underwent major structural 
modifications. This included a 12-degree ramp designed to 
optimally launch Sea Harrier Operations.
In 1982, Hermes saw action in the Falklands under the 
command of Captain Middleton where she distinguished 
herself as the Flagship of the Royal Navy in the campaign 
to regain Falklands and South Georgia from Argentina. 
The 74-day war in hostile weather saw the Sea Harriers 
undertake 2376 sorties and shoot down 20 enemy aircrafts 
with the loss of two Sea Harriers to enemy ground fire.
The Indian Navy, in need of a second aircraft carrier, 
acquired the HMS Hermes on April 24, 1986. INS Viraat 
was finally commissioned by the Indian Navy on 12 May 
1987. After acing a set of tests and trials, on July 23, 1987 it 
sailed from Plymouth to India, reaching the Indian waters 
on 21 August 1987. It was 227 metres long and 49 metres 
wide and had a full load displacement of 28,700 tons.
INS Viraat’s first major operation was ‘Operation 
Jupiter’ in July 1989 as part of Peace Keeping Operations 
in Sri Lanka, following the breakdown of the Indo- 
Sri Lankan Accord of 1986. On July 27, 1989, the ship 
flew 76 helicopter sorties off Kochi to board more than 
350 soldiers and more than 35 tonnes of supplies for 
the 7 Garhwal Rifles. The INS Viraat and its task group 
continued to be stationed out in the field for the next two 
weeks, using the opportunity to train soldiers, proving the 
Viraat’s operational adaptability.
It also played a pivotal role in Operation Parakram, 
which was carried out in the wake of the 2001 terrorist 
attack on the Indian Parliament. By establishing a blockade 
against Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War, the INS Viraat 
also played a crucial part in Operation Vijay. The ship has 
additionally taken part in a number of foreign joint exercises, 
including Malabar (with the US Navy), Varuna (with 
the French Navy), and Naseem-Al-Bahr (with the Oman 
Navy), as well as being a crucial component of every year's 
INS Viraat
YOJANA   November 2022 41
Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX). The ship's 
last operational deployment was in February 2016 when it 
took part in the International Fleet Review (IFR-2016) at 
Visakhapatnam.
The INS Viraat has played a pivotal role in 
spearheading India’s maritime resurgence. Since 1987, the 
ship’s deck launched 22,034 hours of flying, it spent 2,250 
days at sea sailing over 5.8 lakh Nautical Miles. It was 
decommissioned from service on March 06, 2017.
INS Vikramaditya- Indian Navy’s Biggest Ship
Russia’s refurbished Admiral Gorshkov was 
commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya at 
Severodvinsk, Russia on November 16, 2013. It is a state-
of-the-art ship, capable of operating a versatile range of 
high-performance aircrafts, such as the MiG 29K fighters, 
KM 31 AEW helicopters, multi-role Seakings and utility 
Chetaks. The ship is over 285 meters long and 60 meters 
wide, making it the biggest ship in the Indian Navy. Her 23 
decks scale a height of 60 meters.
With over 1,600 personnel on board, INS Vikramaditya 
is literally a ‘Floating City’. With a capacity of over 8,000 
tonnes of Low Sulphur High-Speed Diesel (LSHSD), she 
is capable of operations up to a range of over 7,000 nautical 
miles or 13000 kms. The ship has the ability to carry over 
30 aircrafts, comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea 
Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and 
Chetak helicopters. The MiG 29K swing role fighter is the 
main offensive platform and provides a quantum jump for 
the Indian Navy’s maritime strike capability. These fourth-
generation air superiority fighters provide a significant 
fillip for the Indian Navy with a range of over 700 nm and 
an array of weapons including anti-ship missiles, Beyond 
Visual Range air-to-air missiles, guided bombs and rockets. 
The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art launch and 
recovery systems along with aids to enable smooth and 
efficient operation of ship-borne aircraft. Major systems 
include the LUNA Landing system for MiGs, DAPS 
Landing system for Sea Harriers and Flight deck lighting 
systems.
INS Vikrant (IAC-1): The Self-Reliant Rebirth
The 262-metre-long carrier has a full displacement of 
close to 45,000 tonnes which is much larger and advanced 
than her predecessor. The ship is powered by four Gas 
Turbines totaling 88 MW power and has a maximum speed 
of 28 Knots. Built at an overall cost of close to Rs. 20,000 
crores, the project has been progressed in three Phases 
of contract between MoD and CSL. It has an overall 
indigenous content of 76%.
Vikrant has been built with a high degree of automation 
for machinery operation, ship navigation, and survivability, 
and has been designed to accommodate an assortment of 
fixed- wing and rotary aircraft. The ship would be capable 
of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising 
of MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role 
helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured 
Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat 
Aircraft (LCA) (Navy). Using a novel aircraft operation 
mode known as STOBAR (Short Take-Off but Arrested 
Landing), the IAC is equipped with a ski-jump for 
launching aircraft, and a set of ‘arrester wires’ for their 
recovery onboard.                                                              ?
Sources
1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1845871
2. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=151118
3. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=100633
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGIRJtfOjGA
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcwVGfCqVVE&t=687s INS Vikramaditya
INS Vikrant (IAC-1)
YOJANA   November 2022 43
he new Navy flag was unveiled by the Prime 
Minister Narendra Modi in September 2022. 
Resonant to the ongoing national endeavour to 
move away from the colonial past, a need was 
felt to transition to a new design that drew inspiration from 
our history. The White Ensign identified nationwide with the 
Navy, now comprises of 
two main constituents 
- the National Flag in 
the upper left canton, 
and a Navy Blue - 
Gold octagon at the 
centre of the fly side 
(away from the staff). 
The Octagon is with 
twin golden octagonal 
borders encompassing 
the golden National 
Emblem (Lion Capital 
New Ensign of Indian Navy
T
of Ashoka– underscribed with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ 
in blue Devnagri script) resting atop an anchor; and 
superimposed on a shield. Below the shield, within 
the octagon, in a golden bordered ribbon, on a Navy 
Blue background, is inscribed the motto of the Indian 
Navy ‘Sam No V arunah’ in golden Devnagri script. The 
design encompassed within the octagon has been taken 
from the Indian Naval crest, wherein the fouled anchor, 
which is also associated with the colonial legacy, has 
been replaced with a clear anchor underscoring the 
steadfastness of the Indian Navy.                                  ?
Source: PIB
DO YOU KNOw?
• Inspired by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji 
Maharaj
• Befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage
• Octagonal shape represents Indian Navy’s 
multi-directional reach.
Page 5


YOJANA   November 2022 39
AIRCRAfT CARRIeRS
ircraft carriers are extremely strong and 
have powerful weapons. Their military 
capabilities, which include carrier-borne 
aircraft, have completely changed the 
marine domain. An aircraft carrier offers a wide range of 
strategic benefits. It offers incredibly flexible operational 
options. Surveillance, air defence, airborne early warning, 
protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), and 
anti-submarine warfare are some of its principal functions.
For India, the carrier battlegroup, with its inherent 
combat elements and firepower, becomes a key capability 
to establish effective air dominance and efficient sea 
control.
History of Aircraft Carriers in India
Right from its Independence, India was well aware of 
the need for aircraft carriers to establish itself as a blue 
water navy. Since the sixties, the Indian Navy has had 
the unique distinction of operating all variants of aircraft 
launch and recovery systems.
INS Vikrant (R11)- India’s First Aircraft Carrier
The INS Vikrant was launched on September 22, 1945 
as Hercules. However, its construction was stalled and was 
completed when India purchased it from Britain in 1957. 
On March 04, 1961 it was commissioned as Vikrant in its 
first avatar. It was placed under the command of Captain 
Sailing Through the History
Pritam Singh Mahindroo. On March 05, 1961, Vikrant 
sailed from Belfast for Portsmouth and Portland to carry 
out sea trials, and on October 06, 1961, Vikrant finally 
sailed for India. It entered Bombay on November 03, 1961.
The 19,500-tonne Carrier, INS Vikrant was the first 
ever carrier for an Asian country and remained so for a 
long time. Soon after its commissioning, the INS Vikrant 
saw action during the Goa Liberation Operation in 1961.
It played a crucial role in the 1971 war with its aircrafts 
decimating the enemy. The Sea Hawks and Alizés pounded 
the enemy targets over Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Khulna 
A
INS Vikrant
40 YOJANA   November 2022
and Mongla. Heavy damage was inflicted on the ships and 
harbour installations. The runways at the first two places 
were rendered inoperable, and along with other units of the 
fleet, Vikrant ensured a total blockade off East Pakistan. 
The INS Vikrant helped in preventing reinforcement 
of Pakistani forces from the sea, leading to the birth of 
Bangladesh.
The INS Vikrant emerged in a new avatar as a V ertical/ 
Short Take Off and Land (V/STOL) carrier in 1984, with 
the brand new, state-of-the-art aircraft Sea Harrier. Its new 
capability inspired the induction of INS Vikramaditya, and 
the plans of its reincarnation. After serving for 36 years, 
it was decommissioned from active service on 31 January 
1997.
1
INS Viraat- Over 30 Years of Service to the Nation
INS Viraat was originally commissioned by the British 
Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959. It 
served the Royal Navy in three different avatars- 1959-
1970: as the Strike Carrier, 1970-1980- as a Commando 
Anti-Submarine Warfare Carrier, and 1980 onwards it was 
a V/STOL Carrier, for which it underwent major structural 
modifications. This included a 12-degree ramp designed to 
optimally launch Sea Harrier Operations.
In 1982, Hermes saw action in the Falklands under the 
command of Captain Middleton where she distinguished 
herself as the Flagship of the Royal Navy in the campaign 
to regain Falklands and South Georgia from Argentina. 
The 74-day war in hostile weather saw the Sea Harriers 
undertake 2376 sorties and shoot down 20 enemy aircrafts 
with the loss of two Sea Harriers to enemy ground fire.
The Indian Navy, in need of a second aircraft carrier, 
acquired the HMS Hermes on April 24, 1986. INS Viraat 
was finally commissioned by the Indian Navy on 12 May 
1987. After acing a set of tests and trials, on July 23, 1987 it 
sailed from Plymouth to India, reaching the Indian waters 
on 21 August 1987. It was 227 metres long and 49 metres 
wide and had a full load displacement of 28,700 tons.
INS Viraat’s first major operation was ‘Operation 
Jupiter’ in July 1989 as part of Peace Keeping Operations 
in Sri Lanka, following the breakdown of the Indo- 
Sri Lankan Accord of 1986. On July 27, 1989, the ship 
flew 76 helicopter sorties off Kochi to board more than 
350 soldiers and more than 35 tonnes of supplies for 
the 7 Garhwal Rifles. The INS Viraat and its task group 
continued to be stationed out in the field for the next two 
weeks, using the opportunity to train soldiers, proving the 
Viraat’s operational adaptability.
It also played a pivotal role in Operation Parakram, 
which was carried out in the wake of the 2001 terrorist 
attack on the Indian Parliament. By establishing a blockade 
against Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War, the INS Viraat 
also played a crucial part in Operation Vijay. The ship has 
additionally taken part in a number of foreign joint exercises, 
including Malabar (with the US Navy), Varuna (with 
the French Navy), and Naseem-Al-Bahr (with the Oman 
Navy), as well as being a crucial component of every year's 
INS Viraat
YOJANA   November 2022 41
Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX). The ship's 
last operational deployment was in February 2016 when it 
took part in the International Fleet Review (IFR-2016) at 
Visakhapatnam.
The INS Viraat has played a pivotal role in 
spearheading India’s maritime resurgence. Since 1987, the 
ship’s deck launched 22,034 hours of flying, it spent 2,250 
days at sea sailing over 5.8 lakh Nautical Miles. It was 
decommissioned from service on March 06, 2017.
INS Vikramaditya- Indian Navy’s Biggest Ship
Russia’s refurbished Admiral Gorshkov was 
commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya at 
Severodvinsk, Russia on November 16, 2013. It is a state-
of-the-art ship, capable of operating a versatile range of 
high-performance aircrafts, such as the MiG 29K fighters, 
KM 31 AEW helicopters, multi-role Seakings and utility 
Chetaks. The ship is over 285 meters long and 60 meters 
wide, making it the biggest ship in the Indian Navy. Her 23 
decks scale a height of 60 meters.
With over 1,600 personnel on board, INS Vikramaditya 
is literally a ‘Floating City’. With a capacity of over 8,000 
tonnes of Low Sulphur High-Speed Diesel (LSHSD), she 
is capable of operations up to a range of over 7,000 nautical 
miles or 13000 kms. The ship has the ability to carry over 
30 aircrafts, comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea 
Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and 
Chetak helicopters. The MiG 29K swing role fighter is the 
main offensive platform and provides a quantum jump for 
the Indian Navy’s maritime strike capability. These fourth-
generation air superiority fighters provide a significant 
fillip for the Indian Navy with a range of over 700 nm and 
an array of weapons including anti-ship missiles, Beyond 
Visual Range air-to-air missiles, guided bombs and rockets. 
The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art launch and 
recovery systems along with aids to enable smooth and 
efficient operation of ship-borne aircraft. Major systems 
include the LUNA Landing system for MiGs, DAPS 
Landing system for Sea Harriers and Flight deck lighting 
systems.
INS Vikrant (IAC-1): The Self-Reliant Rebirth
The 262-metre-long carrier has a full displacement of 
close to 45,000 tonnes which is much larger and advanced 
than her predecessor. The ship is powered by four Gas 
Turbines totaling 88 MW power and has a maximum speed 
of 28 Knots. Built at an overall cost of close to Rs. 20,000 
crores, the project has been progressed in three Phases 
of contract between MoD and CSL. It has an overall 
indigenous content of 76%.
Vikrant has been built with a high degree of automation 
for machinery operation, ship navigation, and survivability, 
and has been designed to accommodate an assortment of 
fixed- wing and rotary aircraft. The ship would be capable 
of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising 
of MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role 
helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured 
Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat 
Aircraft (LCA) (Navy). Using a novel aircraft operation 
mode known as STOBAR (Short Take-Off but Arrested 
Landing), the IAC is equipped with a ski-jump for 
launching aircraft, and a set of ‘arrester wires’ for their 
recovery onboard.                                                              ?
Sources
1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1845871
2. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=151118
3. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=100633
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGIRJtfOjGA
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcwVGfCqVVE&t=687s INS Vikramaditya
INS Vikrant (IAC-1)
YOJANA   November 2022 43
he new Navy flag was unveiled by the Prime 
Minister Narendra Modi in September 2022. 
Resonant to the ongoing national endeavour to 
move away from the colonial past, a need was 
felt to transition to a new design that drew inspiration from 
our history. The White Ensign identified nationwide with the 
Navy, now comprises of 
two main constituents 
- the National Flag in 
the upper left canton, 
and a Navy Blue - 
Gold octagon at the 
centre of the fly side 
(away from the staff). 
The Octagon is with 
twin golden octagonal 
borders encompassing 
the golden National 
Emblem (Lion Capital 
New Ensign of Indian Navy
T
of Ashoka– underscribed with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ 
in blue Devnagri script) resting atop an anchor; and 
superimposed on a shield. Below the shield, within 
the octagon, in a golden bordered ribbon, on a Navy 
Blue background, is inscribed the motto of the Indian 
Navy ‘Sam No V arunah’ in golden Devnagri script. The 
design encompassed within the octagon has been taken 
from the Indian Naval crest, wherein the fouled anchor, 
which is also associated with the colonial legacy, has 
been replaced with a clear anchor underscoring the 
steadfastness of the Indian Navy.                                  ?
Source: PIB
DO YOU KNOw?
• Inspired by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji 
Maharaj
• Befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage
• Octagonal shape represents Indian Navy’s 
multi-directional reach.
YOJANA   November 2022 45
he prime objective of the Sagarmala Project 
is to promote port-led direct and indirect 
development and to provide infrastructure 
to transport goods to and from ports 
quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively. Therefore, 
the Sagarmala Project aims to develop access to new 
development regions with intermodal solutions and 
promotion of the optimum modal split, enhanced 
connectivity with main economic centres and beyond 
through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal and 
road services.
Port-led Development
Sagarmala is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping to promote port-led 
development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of 
potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade 
routes. The main vision of the Sagarmala Programme is to reduce logistics cost for international 
and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment.
T
The Sagarmala initiative addresses challenges by 
focusing on three pillars of development, namely-
i. Supporting and enabling Port-led Development through 
appropriate policy and institutional interventions and 
providing for an institutional framework for ensuring 
inter-agency and ministries/departments/states’ 
collaboration for integrated development, 
ii. Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including 
modernisation and setting up of new ports, and 
iii. Efficient Evacuation to and from hinterland.
SAGARMAlA