India's first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant begins another phase of sea trials

India's first indigenous aircraft carrier IAC Vikrant has set sail for the third phase of sea trials that will involve complex manoeuvres to establish specific readings of how the ship performs in various conditions, the Indian Navy said.

The maiden sea trials in August last year were to establish propulsion, navigational suite and basic operations. The second sea trial in October-November witnessed the ship being put through machinery trials and flight trials.

The ship, in fact was out for 10 days, proving its sustenance in the very second sortie. Various seamanship evolutions were also successfully cleared during the second sortie.

Having



gained adequate confidence in the ship’s abilities, the IAC now sails to undertake complex manoeuvres to establish specific readings of how the ship performs in various conditions. Scientists from the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, a DRDO laboratory based at Visakhapatnam, would also be involved during the trials. In addition, various sensor suites of the ship would also be tested.

The development comes after two successive high profile visits by the President and Vice President of India within a span of less than two weeks. Both dignitaries, having reviewed the progress, conveyed their satisfaction and expressed their best wishes to all the stakeholders involved in the project.