Naval Systems

INS Vikrant

Also known as
  • IAC-1
  • Project 71 Vikrant
  • Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1
  • IAC 1
  • Vikrant R11

INS Vikrant is India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. The STOBAR carrier displaces about 45,000 tonnes, can host up to 30 aircraft, and was documented by PIB as deploying its carrier battle group in the northern Arabian Sea during Operation Sindoor.

INS Vikrant, Aircraft carrier, Naval Systems
Image source: CSL Delivers Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant

Role in Conflicts

2025 India-Pakistan Conflict
Side
India
Role in conflict
Carrier battle group deterrence

During Operation Sindoor, PIB said the Vikrant carrier battle group deployed in the northern Arabian Sea as the core of the Indian Navy's offensive deterrent posture.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
India
Type
Aircraft carrier
Designer
Indian Navy Warship Design Bureau
Designed
Development and construction program publicly tracked as IAC-1 / Project 71
Unit cost
Rs. 20,000 crore
Produced
2009-2022

Specifications

Displacement
Approximately 45,000 tonnes
Length
262.5 metres
Beam
61.6 metres
Propulsion
Four gas turbines in COGAG configuration
Installed power
About 88 MW
Maximum speed
28 knots
Flight deck
STOBAR carrier with ski-jump launch and arrester wires
Aircraft capacity
Up to 30 aircraft
Ship's company
About 1,600 personnel
Compartments
About 2,200
Carrier Air Wing

PIB says Vikrant can host up to 30 aircraft and lists MiG-29K fighters, MiG-29KUB, MH-60R, Chetak, Kamov-31, and Advanced Light Helicopters; it also records LCA Navy landings during early fixed-wing trials.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
MiG-29K, Carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsMiG-29KCarrier-based fighter

PIB identifies MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB aircraft in Vikrant's air-wing capacity and records MiG-29K landings during the carrier's 2023 aviation trials.

Sources: PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile

MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, Primary anti-submarine and surface warfare helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsMH-60R Seahawk helicopterShipborne anti-submarine and surface-warfare helicopter

PIB lists MH-60R helicopters among the aircraft types Vikrant can host.

Sources: PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile

HAL Tejas, Single-engine multirole light combat aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVsHAL TejasNaval fighter trial aircraft

PIB records LCA Navy landings on Vikrant in February 2023, tying the Tejas naval test aircraft to the carrier's fixed-wing trials.

Sources: PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile

Sea King, Multi-role maritime helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsSea KingShipborne utility and rescue helicopter

PIB says a Sea King helicopter from Vikrant conducted a March 2025 medical evacuation from MV Heilan Star during the carrier's Arabian Sea deployment.

Sources: PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile

Carried Air-Defense Systems

Defense Post reporting says INS Vikrant carries Barak-8/MRSAM air-defense missiles.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Barak-8, Medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseBarak-8Surface-to-air missile system

Defense Post says the Barak-8/MRSAM system is deployed on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

Sources: Defense Post Vikrant deployment note

Carrier Integration Notes

Vikrant's value in the catalog is broader than the hull alone: the ship connects Indian carrier aviation, shipborne air defense, and escorted carrier-battle-group operations. PIB describes a STOBAR deck with ski-jump launch and arrested recovery, capacity for up to 30 aircraft, and final-clearance flying activity in 2024 that included day and night fighter and helicopter sorties.

AreaDocumented contextSource
Aircraft operationsMiG-29K and LCA Navy landings marked early fixed-wing integration after commissioning.PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile
Operational clearanceJanuary-November 2024 final-clearance work included more than 750 hours of flying operations.PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile
Conflict deploymentThe Vikrant carrier battle group deployed in the northern Arabian Sea during Operation Sindoor.PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile
Timeline

INS Vikrant Key Events

  1. Delivered to the Indian Navy

    Cochin Shipyard delivered the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant to the Indian Navy after the ship's construction and trials program.

    Sources: CSL Delivers Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant

  2. Commissioned as INS Vikrant

    INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Kochi in September 2022.

    Sources: PIB Delivery of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant

  3. Fixed-wing aviation trials

    PIB records the first carrier landings of LCA Navy and MiG-29K aircraft on Vikrant in February 2023.

    Sources: PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile

  4. Operation Sindoor begins

    During Operation Sindoor, PIB said Vikrant's carrier battle group deployed in the northern Arabian Sea as part of the Indian Navy posture against Pakistan.

    Sources: PIB INS Vikrant 2025 Profile

Media

INS Vikrant Videos

INS Vikrant Images

INS Vikrant, Aircraft carrier, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: INS Vikrant Carrier Battle Group
INS Vikrant, Aircraft carrier, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: IAC1 Vikrant with INS Kolkata during sea trial
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Sources

PIB Delivery of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier VikrantPublisher: Press Information Bureau | Note: Supports INS Vikrant specifications, indigenous-build context, commissioning background, and reported project cost. | Accessed: 2026-06-29CSL Delivers Indigenous Aircraft Carrier VikrantPublisher: Cochin Shipyard Limited | Note: Supports manufacturer background and image provenance for the delivery photo of INS Vikrant. | Accessed: 2026-06-29PIB INS Vikrant 2025 ProfilePublisher: Press Information Bureau | Note: Supports updated specifications, aircraft-capacity context, 2024 final operational clearance activity, and direct 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict use through Operation Sindoor deployment of the Vikrant carrier battle group. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Defense Post Vikrant deployment notePublisher: Defense Post | Note: Supports background context that Barak-8/MRSAM air-defense missiles are deployed on INS Vikrant. | Accessed: 2026-06-29INS Vikrant Carrier Battle GroupPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the carrier-battle-group photo under Government Open Data License - India. | Accessed: 2026-06-29IAC1 Vikrant with INS Kolkata during sea trialPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the sea-trial photo of IAC-1 Vikrant with INS Kolkata under Government Open Data License - India. | Accessed: 2026-06-29