Government targets to deliver India's first indigenous aircraft carrier by 2018 end

India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is on its way to be delivered to the Navy in December, 2018, government said on Friday.

Undocked in June this year at Cochin Shipyard Limited, the construction of the first of the two planned Vikrant-class future aircraft carrier began in 2008 .

Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for defence Rao Inderjit Singh said that there has been a delay in the work of constructing the carrier mainly due to non-availability of warship grade steel, delayed ordering of Propulsion System Integration and delay in Russian approvals for design and equipment supply. "The targeted date of delivery to Indian Navy is December, 2018," he said.

The indigenous aircraft carrier has been undocked post completion of underwater structural work and the government has approved revision of cost of project to Rs.19,341 Crores, the minister added.

Once completed, the 40,000 tonne aircraft, which has been designed by Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval Design, will make India join the coveted club of the USA, UK, France and Russia – the only countries that design and make these ships on their own.

India currently operates two aircraft carriers, INS Viraat and INS Vikramaditya.