INS Viraat is the second centaur class aircraft carrier in service which has spent 30 years in the Indian Navy and before that 27 years in the Royal Navy of UK.
INS Viraat, the second aircraft carrier in the Indian naval fleet, will be decommissioned on March 6, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra said on Monday.
INS Viraat is the second centaur class aircraft carrier in service which has spent 30 years in the Indian Navy and before that 27 years in the Royal Navy of UK.
"The next aircraft carrier is under construction at Cochin. It will be named Vikrant. As per the contract with the Cochin Shipyard, the ship will commence trials by end-2018 or early 2019," said Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FoC-in-C) of the Western Naval Command, on board INS Viraat.
"There is a proposal for converting the ship (INS Viraat) into a maritime museum. We are expecting a final decision from the Ministry of Defence very soon," Luthra said. The Andhra Pradesh government plans to convert the ship into a luxury hotel-cum-museum.
He said the Navy is looking for multi-role helicopters (MRH) with combat and evacuation capabilities to act as force multipliers. These choppers are meant for anti-surface and anti-submarine roles and for rescue and evacuation.
"We are seeking early sanctions and early conclusion of contract so that this induction (of MRH) can take place in time," said Luthra, stating that the Navy is also inducting the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) will look at issues like whether the MRH can be developed on a strategic partnership model, he noted. "The requirement of MRH is very important. We would like to move on that case as early as we can," said Luthra.
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