According to a foreign media report on October 26, India will begin mooring tests on its first domestically-made aircraft carrier “Vikrant” from this month, including tests on propulsion systems and electrical systems.
Previously, the New India Express reported on October 5 that the mooring test was considered an important nodal test for the new aircraft carrier. The Vikrant was originally planned to conduct the test in September, but the work was caused by the new crown pneumonia epidemic. Delays in progress.
According to reports, if all goes well, the “Vikrant” will be tested at sea in December this year and is expected to enter service before the end of 2021.
It is reported that the “Vikrant” aircraft carrier was designed by the Indian Naval Design Bureau. The design of the ship began in 1999. Construction started in February 2009 and was launched on August 12, 2013.
The Vekrant is 262 meters long, 62 meters wide, has a displacement of 40,000 tons, and has a maximum speed of 28 knots. The ship can carry 36 to 40 aircraft.
Although the mooring test is about to be carried out, the currently public pictures show that the outfitting work of the aircraft carrier has not yet been completed, there are still containers stacked on the flight deck, and the scaffolding on the ship island has not been completely removed.
Expert interpretation:
Construction has to be delayed and military expenditures are stretched
In this case, a mooring test is being carried out and the aircraft carrier is eagerly going to sea. What is India’s plan? Will India quickly form a dual aircraft carrier combat capability? Why should the construction of the third aircraft carrier be suspended? In-depth interpretation of arms sales experts.
Military expert Cao Weidong:
It is very difficult for India to form the combat effectiveness of dual aircraft carriers. Many reasons have caused the delay in the construction of India’s domestic aircraft carrier.
Although the Indian aircraft carrier is domestically produced, its main equipment and equipment are from abroad. The aircraft carrier has not been delivered to the Indian Navy because foreign equipment and key equipment are not in place, and it cannot be made by itself. Therefore, it is necessary to postpone its construction speed.
Although the mooring test has been carried out, there will be sea trials in the future, which may expose more problems. Therefore, it is unlikely to be delivered to the navy at the speed of other countries’ normal aircraft carrier construction.
Although India has purchased a lot of foreign armaments and its military expenditure also appears to be a lot, in fact, India’s military expenditure is already stretched out. India originally planned to use nuclear power and electromagnetic ejection for the third aircraft carrier, and it would all use new equipment and new technologies, but the funds were insufficient.
The Chief of Indian Defense Staff strongly opposes the construction of aircraft carriers because they believe that domestically-produced aircraft carriers cost too much money and are useless.
At the same time, the supporting facilities of the Indian aircraft carrier have not kept up, and now they have not figured out what type of carrier-based aircraft to purchase. If you buy the American F-35B carrier-based aircraft, I am afraid that the military expenses cannot be afforded.
