IAC INS Vikrant (Project 71) Update

IAC INS Vikrant model at DefExpo 2014.

Following its launch on August 12, 2013, INS Vikrant was towed into Cochin Shipyard's repair dock! No the launch wasn't a AKA fraud! Here is the reason why Vikrant was promptly moved into the repair dock.

Cochin Shipyard's construction dock has a limitation on the overall size of a ship that it can construct. The repair dock of the shipyard can handle much larger ships than those that can be accommodated in the construction dock.

INS Vikrant is now getting its deck extensions - the landing strip and the overhang behind the ships island - at the repair doc. The work is likely to be completed by August 2014, after which the ship would be re-floated for fitment.

IAC is expected to commence sea trials in 2017, CNS DK Joshi told NDTV in November 2013.

Now, take another look at the photo above of the Vikrant model.. Notice all the aircraft on deck are MiG-29K's. No Naval LCA anywhere! The Vikrant model displayed at Aero India 2011 had many LCA Navals.

I am not saying...

For additional details on INS Vikrant please visit

Indian Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Project 71 (INS Vikrant) - IDP Sentinel