INS Viraat (R22)
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| Career |  Royal Navy  Indian Navy |
|---|---|
| Name: | INS Viraat |
| Builder: | Vickers-Armstrong |
| Launched: | 16 February 1953 |
| Commissioned: | 18 November 1959 |
| Recommissioned: | May 1987 (bought from UK) |
| Decommissioned: | 2012 (expected)[1] |
| Refit: | April 1986, July 1999 |
| Motto: | Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah (Sanskrit: "I completely defeat those who dare fight me") |
| Status: | undergoing refit until July 2009 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Centaur class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: | 23,900 tons standard 28,700 tons full load |
| Length: | 226.5 metres (743 ft) |
| Beam: | 48.78 metres (160.0 ft) |
| Draught: | 8.8 metres (29 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Parsons geared steam turbines; 4 boilers with 400 psi, 76,000 shp |
| Speed: | 28 knots (52 km/h) |
| Range: | 6,500 miles (10,500 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Complement: | Maximum 2,100; 1,207 ship's crew, 143 air crew |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
1 x BEL/Signaal RAWL 02 air radar 1 x RAWS 08 air/surface radar 2 x BEL Rashmi navigation radars 1 x EL/M-2221 STGR fire control radar 1 x Plessey Type 904 radar 1 x FT 13-S/M Tacan system Sonar: 1 x Graseby Type 184M hull-mounted sonar |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
1 x BEL Ajanta ESM Decoy: 2 x Knebworth Corvus chaff launchers |
| Armament: |
2 x 40mm Bofors AA guns |
| Aircraft carried: |
Up to 30
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INS Viraat (R22) (Sanskrit: विराट, Virāṭ. "Giant" ) is a Centaur-class aircraft carrier currently in service with the Indian Navy. INS Viraat is the flagship of the Indian Navy, the oldest carrier afloat, and one of the two aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean Region.
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[edit] History
INS Viraat was originally commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on 18 November 1959. During her career as Hermes, she served as the flagship of the Royal Navy's task force in the Falkland Islands campaign. She would serve the Royal Navy another three years until she was struck from active duty in 1985.
After evaluating vessels from several countries, particularly the Garibaldi class of Italian ships,[2] the Indian Navy purchased the vessel in April 1986[3] and gave it an extensive refit at Devonport Dockyard to allow for continued operability into the next decade[4]. New fire control equipment, navigation radars, improved NBC protection, and deck landing aids were installed in this refit. Boilers were converted to operate on distillate fuel. In September 1993, the engine room of Viraat flooded, temporarily putting the vessel out of service for several months. By 1995, the vessel was back in service and had a new search radar.
Between July 1999 and April 2001, INS Viraat completed another life-extension refit which is expected to extend her serviceability till 2010. This refit upgraded propulsion systems, added a package of sensors to sound emergency alerts, and introduced modern communication systems. In addition, long-range surveillance radar, weapon systems, and new hangar with fire curtains was installed. The lift system was revamped to reduce reaction time in the event of an attack and a new flood alarm system was installed. In early June 2001 Viraat returned to service after nearly two years of refit.
The vessel also took part in the International Fleet Review in Mumbai in February 2001. Wing commander Ashoka Padmanabhan flew the Tigermoth-B970 past its deck anchored at 1.5 nautical km from the Gateway of India. The vessel had to be towed back to dry dock for another refit in mid-2003 and returned to service only in November 2004, during which the vessel was fitted with the Barak SAM[5] [6].
In a wartime scenario, the INS Viraat can embark up to 18 combat aircraft. INS Viraat is ideally suited for two missions: supporting amphibious operations and conducting ASW operations. Despite its age and range considerations, INS Viraat can quite effectively project naval and air power anywhere in the South Asia region.
In 2004, India bought the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov [7] from Russia for US$1.5 billion including compliment of aircraft.[8] It is expected to enter service in 2012 as INS Vikramaditya. The Viraat is expected to be replaced by 2011–2012 by a new Vikrant class carrier that the Vikramaditya represents.
[edit] Structure
Viraat is fitted with a 12° ski jump to operate the Sea Harrier[9], a reinforced flight deck, 1.2 inches (3 cm) of armour over magazines and machinery spaces. The magazine capacity includes 80+ lightweight torpedoes. The vessel retains commando transport capability, for around 750 troops and carries four LCVP landing craft aft.
[edit] Air Group
- Fleet Defence - Sea Harrier FRS Mk.51 (Capacity for 30)
- Airborne Early Warning - Kamov Ka-31 Helix-B
- ASW/ASV - Sea King Mk.42B and Kamov Ka-28 Helix-A
- Commando Assault and Vertical Replenishment - Sea King Mk.?
[edit] Combat Data Systems
The ship has been fitted with
- Italian Elmar communication suites
- CAAIS action data automation; Link 10
- SATCOM systems
[edit] Gallery
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 A Sea Harrier takes off from the deck of the Viraat |
[edit] References
- ^ INS Viraat not to anchor before 2012-India-The Times of India
- ^ The Naval Arms Trade By Ian Anthony
- ^ Students' Britannica India By Dale Hoiberg, Indu Ramchandani
- ^ Aircraft Carriers: The World's Greatest Naval Vessels and Their Aircraft By Chris Bishop, Chris Chant, Christopher Chant
- ^ Israel's Quest for Recognition and Acceptance in Asia: Garrison State Diplomacy By Jacob Abadi, Abadi Jacob
- ^ International Electronic Countermeasures Handbook By Journal of Electronic Defense Staff
- ^ Indo-Russian Military and Nuclear Cooperation: Lessons and Options for U.S Policy in South Asia By Jerome M. Conleyfrom
- ^ INS Vikramaditya Hits Delay, Cost Increases, DefenseIndustryDaily.com.
- ^ China and the Asia-pacific Region: Geostrategic Relations and a Naval Dimension By Jae-Hyung Lee
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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