INS Viraat (R22)

History

INS Viraat (R22) ("Viraat" meaning "giant") is a conventionally powered aircraft carrier currently in service with the Indian Navy. Like several other Indian aircraft carrier designs past and present, the INS Viraat was born as a foreign product, purchased and refurbished, and reincorporated into the Indian Navy. She started as HMS Hermes in the Centaur class of the Royal Navy in 1959 and was born on 21 June 1944 in an initiative late in World War II.

Construction continued until it was delayed at the end of the war in 1945. She was not completed until 1952, and was officially launched on February 16, 1953. The Royal Navy officially commissioned the ship on 25 November 1959.

HMS Hermes faithfully fulfilled her expected role, operating the Royal Navy's newest jet fighter on her deck and serving with Argentina as the flagship of the British fleet during the 1982 Falklands War - her inventory now Upgrade to BAe Sea Harrier VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) Jump Jet. In 1983, HMS Hermes was sold to Australia, but the deal fell through. She finally retired in 1984, and her acquisition costs were finally amortized in 1985.

An agreement was then reached with the Indian government to be handed over to the Indian authorities in 1986 after refurbishment and modernization. After sea trials, the ship officially entered service with the Indian Navy in 1989 and is currently in service (as of 2012). However, she is expected to be decommissioned (for the last time) in 2020 to make way for a new generation of aircraft carriers designed, developed and built indigenously in India (two are currently under construction, the first is expected in 2017).

From 1993 to 2011, the INS Viraat underwent extensive rebuilding to keep the 50-year-old ship fit for the modern battlefield. Still, she maintains a well-known presence in Indian waters and keeps pace with Pakistani and Chinese developments in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the same time, the Indian government purchased the former Kyiv aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov as well as a fleet of Mikoyan MiG-29K "Fulcrum" naval fighter jets. Admiral Gorshkov underwent extensive refit at Russian shipyards ahead of delivery, aiming to provide the Indian Navy with useful service for decades until suitable spare parts come online.

INS Viraat is currently (2012) the flagship of the Indian Navy, operating under the motto "He who rules the seas is all-powerful" and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashta.

Compared to her final HMS Hermes configuration, the INS Viraat received an all-new Fire Control System (FCS) as well as modern radar and communications facilities. The original 4 barrel boiler system was upgraded and connected to 2 Parson geared steam turbines rated at 76,000 hp.

The boat can travel at 28 knots for up to 6,500 miles before needing refueling. Sensors and processing are handled by the air search/air search radar suite, navigation radar and EL/M-2221 STGR fire control radar system. The on-board sonar is mounted on the hull and is of the Graseby 184M type.

Like many other European aircraft carrier designs, the INS Viraat completed a 12-degree ski jump, shortening the takeoff requirements. This proved useful when launching a fixed-wing BAe Sea Harrier, but greatly limited the type of fixed-wing aircraft the ship could use (unlike the "flat-top" designs of full-size US carriers).

The ski slope was relocated to port bow, leaving the bow starboard deck area open for aircraft storage on deck. The island's superstructure was moved to the starboard side, leaving the port flight deck area clear of obstructions and facilitating recovery of incoming aircraft.

The superstructure houses the bridge and flight controls and is adorned with two recognizable pylons between which a smoke funnel is installed to blow out the turbine engine configuration. A multipurpose heavy-duty crane is installed behind the superstructure for loading and unloading supply or rescue vessels as required. There are several clearly marked helicopter recovery locations along the flight deck.

Deck lifts serve the flight deck by bringing waiting aircraft upstairs from the hangar deck below.

The defense of the INS Viraat remains a collection of individual systems designed to counter air and maritime threats from a distance. These include 16 x Barak surface-to-air missiles (added during the 2003-2004 overhaul) fired from vertical launch units for medium to long-range threats and 2 x 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns for medium and long-range threats short-range threats were used.

The BEL Ajanta ESM suite supports Electronic Warfare (EW) processing. Their squadron consists of up to 30 aircraft, including BAe Sea Harrier fighter jets (FRS51 designation), Westland Sea King Mk 42/Kamov Ka-28 "Helix-A"/Kamov Ka-28 "Helix-A"/Kamov Ka -31 "Helix-B" helicopter family, as well as recent domestic helicopters HAL Chetak and HAL Dhruv.

The INS Viraat displaces 24,000 tonnes at standard load, increasing to nearly 29,000 tonnes at full mission load. She is 743 feet long, has a beam of 160 feet, and has a draft of 29 feet. The standard operating staff consists of 12,000 personnel, with an additional approximately 140 members making up the required flight crew.

In wartime conditions, the INS Viraat can carry up to 2,100 officers, sailors, mechanics, pilots and their crews.

INS Viraat equipped in this way can handle a variety of war scenarios. It can deploy its Sea Harrier VTOL fighter in an air defense role while also unleashing its ensemble of helicopters to detect incoming air or maritime threats, while identifying, attacking and attacking through its ensemble of anti-ship/anti-Buten Come and target enemy surface warships and submarines. Attack - Submarine Helicopter.

The INS Viraat is also equipped with an amphibious assault role, capable of managing up to 750 waiting infantry and associated personnel, ready to board an amphibious LCVP transport aircraft. These are traditionally launched from the stern and can be salvaged as such. Up to four such boats can be transported below deck.

Their helicopters could then be used to supply bridgeheads and, if necessary, those inland. With these capabilities, INS Viraat can also be used to participate in humanitarian aid operations.

March 2017 - The Indian Navy has officially retired the INS Viraat. This makes INS Vikramaditya the only active aircraft carrier in the Indian Navy.

Specification

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Performance

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