INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, is now equipped with a sophisticated guidance radar and surface to air missiles - a move seen as a crucial step towards its operational deployment.
The Israel-designed MF-STAR (Multi-Function Surveillance, Track and Guidance Radar) and Barak-8 MRSAMs (Medium Range Surface to Air missiles) - are of Israeli origin. The MRSAM is manufactured under license in India.
Vertical Launch Barak-8 Missiles installed
The MF-STAR-MRSAM combo is already in use of frontline Indian destroyers of the Kolkata and Visakhapatnam class. The MF-STAR is designed to detect airborne targets such as aircraft, anti-ship missiles and cruise missiles which the MR-SAM is designed to shoot down at ranges in excess of 80 kilometres.
The official account of INS Vikrant also shared images of aircraft after the 'refit'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the country's first home-built aircraft carrier in September last year, underlying his government's efforts to boost domestic production to supply a military deployed on two contentious borders.
The Indian Navy has planned to deploy INS Vikrant on the eastern seaboard during Milan-2024, a flagship international naval exercise hosted by Vizag next year.
Newly-installed MF-Star Radar
The 45,000-tonne INS Vikrant was built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore and was commissioned in September last year. At 262 metres long and 62 metres wide.
It can have 30 aircraft on board, including MiG-29K fighter jets and helicopters. The warship can accommodate a crew of nearly 1,600.
India has started negotiations with France for the acquisition of 26 Rafale-M aircraft which are meant to replace the MiG-29Ks onboard the Vikrant.
The warship was in the works for over a decade. Multiple phases of sea trials of INS Vikrant have been completed since August 21 last year.
With INS Vikrant, India has joined a select group of nations, such as the US, UK, Russia, China and France, that can design and build their own aircraft carriers.
