Indian Navy - Rambilli Naval Base

Naval Alternative Operations Base (NAOB) project of the Indian Navy at Rambilli in the district will be completed in the next five to six years as land acquisition is almost over and project work has already begun, a top Indian Navy official said here on Friday.

According to sources, the state government has allocated more than 5,000 acres to the Indian Navy at Rambilli mandal in the district and except for a few local problems, the project work has been proceeding at a fast pace.

The senior naval official also revealed that the proposed Very Low Frequency (VLF) Communications station project in Ranga Reddy district needs an initial investment of Rs 1,000 crore.

Site for Rambilli Naval Base ( Image Courtesy - thehindu.com) 

"The Navy has already got the first phase of clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the VLF station. For the next phase of clearances from MoEF, the Navy needs a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Telangana government, which is expected soon," said the top official, adding that the Navy opted for Ranga Reddy district as it is a strategic location for the VLF station.

"Navy needs a huge chunk of land as the antennas are very big in size. With this VLF station, the Indian Navy can communicate with vessels and men even underwater," he added.

Meanwhile, sources said the Navy was not ready to move out of the existing Visakhapatnam airport, which is under their control. "The Navy will not move out of the INS Dega airstrip because it is a strategic location. However, the Navy will not oppose any development works at the airport by the aviation ministry. It will develop its own airstrips at various places like Badangi near Bobbili in Vizianagaram district but will continue to hold onto INS Dega," a source said.

News Courtesy - timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Nostalgia: INS Vikrant, INS Viraat and INS Vikramaditya

Enjoy these two awesome pictures showcasing the might of Indian Navy !!!! 

History repeating itself after 23 long years !!!!

Cherish the moment !!!!

INS Vikrant and INS Viraat in 1990 ( Image Courtesy - martinfrost.ws )

INS Viraat and INS Vikramaditya in 2013 ( Image Courtesy - livefistdefence.com )

India Navy: Tender for domestic construction of four LPDs

The Indian Navy has floated a US $2.6 billion domestic tender for construction of four landing platform docks (LPDs) and bids were sent to domestic shipyards, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering, and ABG Shipyard. A senior Navy planner said the service will select a winning design based on the low bidder. State-owned Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. (HSL) then will build two LPDs based on that design and the winning company will build two. This will be India’s first attempt to build the 20,000-ton vessels.

Limiting involvement to only domestic shipyards, despite having no experience in building LPDs, is welcomed by analysts. “This is an extremely wise decision; LPDs are relatively less sophisticated than high-end destroyers and provide a perfect opportunity for domestic private industry to upgrade their skills in warship construction. Private shipyards which have made huge investments in developing modern state-of-the-art shipyards will be able to prove their credentials for undertaking larger and more sophisticated projects,” said Anil Jai Singh, retired Indian Navy commodore and defense analyst.

Italian LPD San Giorgio ( Image Courtesy - keypublishing.com ) 

The LPD tender states the ship should be no more than 215 meters long and have a draft not to exceed 8 meters, in full load conditions. The ship will be powered by electric propulsion systems and have an endurance of 45 days with a maximum sustained speed of not less than 20 knots. The LPD should be able to carry six main battle tanks, 20 infantry combat vehicles and 40 heavy trucks.

The ship also should be equipped with a point defense missile system, the close-in weapon system, an anti-torpedo decoy system, a chaff system, and heavy and light machine guns. Special operation helicopters and large helicopters, up to 35 tons, will operate from the ship. The LPD should be able to accommodate 1,430 personnel, including 60 officers, 470 sailors and 900 troops.

News Courtesy - defensenews.com

Indian Navy: Tender for six Project 75-I Submarines

The Indian Navy is just one step away from issuing a global tender worth almost eight billion dollars for six conventional stealth submarines. Russia is among the four countries which are in a vantage position in bagging the upcoming contracts, the other countries being France, Sweden and Germany, though not necessarily in that order.

Indian Navy’s Vice Chief, Vice Admiral R K Dhowan, said at a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, September 16 that the navy’s proposal for having six hi-tech submarines will be soon placed before India’s apex decision-making body on defence and strategic matters the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

A Lada class submarine at sea-trials ( Image Courtesy - defencetalk.com)

Vice Admiral Dhowan informed that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister A K Antony, had given its approval for the proposal to be taken up before the CCS and the global tender will be issued after the CCS nod comes. The navy vice chief said the tender would be worth Rs 50,000 crore, which is about $7.92 billion at today’s exchange rates.

The Indian Navy plans a unique 2+2+2 format for adding the proposed six submarines to its fleet. Sources said the prevailing thought in the Indian Navy is to go for outright purchase of two submarines from abroad and order two submarines each for Indian public sector and private sector companies.

Vice Admiral Dhowan put this point in perspective with a pithy remark: “Navy is poised for growth... over the next decade, we plan to induct at least four to five major combatants (warships and frigates) every year. This provides an ideal opportunity for Indian shipyards and industry to enter into collaborative arrangements or joint ventures.”' Dhowan elaborated that 46 warships and submarines are currently under construction in Indian shipyards.

News Courtesy - indrus.in

First Scorpene Submarine for Indian Navy by 2014

The first of the six Scorpene submarines ordered by the Indian Navy from French firm DCNS in 2005, will be rolled out by 2014, France's top diplomat in India said today. 

"The first submarine would be ready by 2014, heralding an important and strategic tie-up between both the nations on the defence front", said Francois Richier, Ambassador of France in India, adding the rest of five submarines would be delivered every subsequent year. 

"Such kind of submarines are important for Indian Navy considering the long coast it has to guard", he said. Richier is in Goa to visit French Destroyer 'FNS Montcalm' which is here as the part of training exercises with the Indian Navy. 

( Image Courtesy - militaryphotos.net ) 

"The induction of Scorpene submarines would enhance Indian Navy's capabilities to conduct exercises in the open sea. These are the latest generation of conventional submarines", a senior French naval officer said. 

Designed for defence against under-water threats, the 1,750-tonne submarine-submarine-killer (SSK) Scorpene is 67 meters in length and can dive to a depth of 300 meters. Ccording to French naval officials, the submarine can stay at sea for 45 days with a crew of 31. 

The standard version has six torpedo tubes and anti-shipping missile launchers.

News Courtesy - business-standard.com

INS Trikand on sea trials, to be commissioned this summer

The last in a series of three frigates that Russia is building for India at the Yantar Shipyard in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad has completed contractor sea trials, a spokesman for the shipyard said on Friday.

Sergei Mikhailov said the trials of The Trikand frigate in the Baltic Sea began on February 5 and were completed on March 14. “Within this period, the vessel carried out five voyages in the Baltic Sea, each lasting several days,” Mikhailov said.

The Trikand is currently at the Baltiisk port, preparing for state sea trials. It is scheduled to join the Indian Navy in the summer of 2013.

INS Trikand at launch ceremony ( Image Courtesy - rusembassy.in ) 

Russia and India signed a $1.6 billion contract on the construction of three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for India in 2006.

The first frigate, INS Teg, joined the Indian Navy on April 27, 2012, and the second, the Tarkash, arrived at the port of Mumbai in India on December 30, 2012. The frigates are each armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

They are also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers and an antisubmarine warfare 

News Courtesy - rusembassy.in

India test fires submarine launched version of BrahMos

India has successfully carried out the maiden test firing of the over 290 km-range submarine-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the Bay of Bengal becoming the first country in the world to have this capability.

The submarine-launched version of BrahMos was successfully test-fired from an underwater pontoon in Bay of Bengal, the performance of the missile during the test launch was “perfect“, BrahMos CEO A. Sivathanu Pillai told PTI.

This is the first test firing of an underwater supersonic cruise missile anywhere in the world and the missile travelled its complete range of over 290 kms, he said.

Maiden test firing of BrahMos ( Image Courtesy - thehindubusinessline.com )

Ship and ground-launched versions of the missile have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian Army and the Navy.

“BrahMos missile is fully ready for fitment in submarines in vertical launch configuration which will make the platform one of the most powerful weapon platforms in the world,” Pillai said.

Defence Minister A K Antony congratulated DRDO scientists and Russian specialists along with officers of the Indian Navy associated with the project for successful test launch of missile from an underwater platform.

News Courtesy - thehindubusinessline.com

India Navy to lease another SSN from Russia - Iribis

Though, it should not come as any kind of revelation to anyone, but something which was quite expected (in my opinion somewhat delayed as well) and had been in open for a while now. 

India is in talks with Russia to finance the completion of another nuclear submarine for the Indian Navy, a senior Russian military official told RIA Novosti on Tuesday. After the Nerpa, which was leased by India and recommissioned as INS Chakra last year, this another partly-completed Akula class vessel would be the Indian Navy’s second SSN. 

“India has expressed interest in completing the next vessel. The robust hull of the second sub is ready and waiting on the stocks of the Amur plant. It is being well looked after,” said the military spokesman. At the same time, he stressed that the completion of the second nuclear submarine requires an inter-governmental agreement between India and Russia. “The issue is being worked out. As in the first case, it might be leased out, not sold,” said the source for RIA Novosti.

INS Chakra ( Image Courtesy - indrus.in )

Due to limited information available in public domain on Russian submarines, one can not be certain which submarine is being considered for this lease; however details available thus far points to a partly-completed Akula class submarine - 'Iribis'. 

Iribis belongs to 'Akula I Improved' sub class that were planned under the project '971 I'. INS Chakra (Nerpa) submarine also belongs to the same sub class. With the lease of the Nerpa, India became the sixth operator of nuclear submarines in the world, after the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China.

India’s domestically-designed INS Arihant nuclear submarine is expected to be ready for operational deployment this year after final sea trials. Three more hulls of Arihant class are in different stages of construction.

News Courtesy - indrus.in

INS Viraat to serve Indian Navy till 2016 and beyond

Capt. Biswajit Dasgupta, Commanding Officer of INS Viraat helped to lay rumors to rest, regarding near-future decommissioning plans of the vessel. “There’s no plan to pay the ship off at the moment. It will have life left for a few more years,” Capt. Dasgupta told the media aboard the vessel.

Capt. Dasgupta said the ship’s current round of refit was undertaken because it can still serve the Navy for some good years. In the first phase of refit - hull inspection and repair, machinery work and some minor jobs were scheduled. With the first phase nearly over, Viraat would now sail to Mumbai, maybe a couple of weeks from now for some essential repairs of its machinery and equipment at the Naval Dockyard. The aircraft carrier is expected to get back on duty in another three months.

When queried on the recent reports in media that Viraat would be decommissioned following the introduction of INS Vikramaditya, Capt. Dasgupta clarified - "Viraat retains the full capacity to perform its tasks, though old, but is still firing on all cylinders. We have updated Viraat with new technologies and devices. We have no doubts about her performance and power-projection capability”.

INS Viraat in glory ( Image Courtesy - asianetindia.com )

One other navy official, in condition of anonymity said - Viraat looks pretty good to go till 2016 at least, and may be beyond. From thorough inspections carried out at all recent major refits, we have found that she is still in pretty good shape, and with Sea Harriers on-board she can project power anywhere in Indian Ocean, where our interest lies.

Hardly 100 metres away, in the CSL yard’s building bay, construction was apace on the country’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), which will be named INS Vikrant on commissioning. With INS Vikramaditya, expected to arrive this year, Indian Navy is eagerly looking to operate two carrier battle groups again, after a long wait of sixteen years. 

Till 1997, Indian Navy used to operate two carrier battle groups, centered around INS Vikrant and INS Viraat. In few months down the line, if all goes well, Navy will be operating two carrier battle groups again, centered around INS Viraat and INS Vikramaditya.

News Courtesy - thehindu.com

Indian Navy: Progress Report - INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier

Over a year after its initial launch, the maiden indigenous aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy will be re-docked at Cochin Shipyard by the end of January 2013, for resumption of work.

Once back at the building bay for completion of work in the first phase, the carrier — currently weighing about 17,500 tonnes — will have its propulsion, shafting, generation and other engineering equipment fitted over the next five to six months before it gets floated out again.

Quite a bit of structural work, probably up to the flight deck, which would give the vessel some shape, will also happen during this phase of construction.

INS Vikrant II under construction at Kochi ( Image Courtesy - thehindu.com )

The project had hit a mechanical roadblock when reduction gearboxes made by the Gujarat-based Elecon Engineering Company Limited fell short of requirements. “Further construction of the carrier wasn’t possible without the huge gearboxes going in. The systems have now passed muster,” said a Navy source.

As the first IAC, to be named INS Vikrant on completion, undergoes birth pangs at the Cochin Shipyard, a second carrier, presumably a bigger one weighing almost 60,000 tonnes, is on the drawing board at the Directorate of Naval Design in New Delhi.

News Courtesy - thehindu.com

Indian Navy : Project 75-I Submarines - Progress Update

The Indian Navy is set to "very soon" issue a RFP (Request for Proposal) for a new line of six submarines with AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) capability. Project 75-I, has now being given firm clearance by the government, according to Indian Navy chief, Admiral DK Joshi.

Asked how soon is "very soon," the naval chief told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that the Defence Acquisition Committee (DAC) had already cleared a note on Acceptance of Necessity (AON), the navy had finalized the RFP and it was in its last stage of formalities for clearance in the defence ministry.

Lada Class Submarine - Russia is offering export version of Lada (Amur) for Project 75-I

( Image Courtesy - submarinersworld.blogspot.com)

As per indications, the RFP for the submarines should be out even in January 2013, or latest by March before the financial year 2012-13 ends.

AIP increases the mission life of a submarine by around three times, depending upon the task and parameters required. The capability enables a submarine to generate air on-board without the need to surface for breathing to recharge its batteries.

The new Project 75-I submarines should be huge in value, estimated at around $10 billion-plus, depending upon the offsets and transfer of technology (ToT).

News Courtesy - ibnlive.in.com

Indian Navy : First Boeing Poseidon P-8I aircraft received

Boosting its anti-submarine warfare capabilities, the Indian Navy today received its first of the eight P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft from Boeing. 

India had signed a deal worth over USD 2.1 billion with the American firm in January 2009 for procuring eight P-8I long-range surveillance aircraft which are equipped with anti-submarine weaponry.

The first aircraft was handed over to Indian personnel by the Boeing company in Seattle, US and now it will be used for training the Indian Navy crew, Navy officials said here.

Boeing Poseidon P-8I on a Test Flight ( Image Courtesy - shelbs2.deviantart.com )

The aircraft along with two more will arrive in India in May next year and would be deployed at a naval base in Tamil Nadu, they said. 

India is also looking at ordering four more such aircraft to keep an eye on its extensive maritime territory and for replacing and augmenting its existing fleet of Russian Tupolev-42 and Ilyushin-38 Sea Dragon aircraft. 

It also plans to have six more medium range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. It operates the Dornier surveillance aircraft for short-range surveillance activities.

News Courtesy - economictimes.indiatimes.com

INS Chakra Video - Homecoming of Akula Class SSN

A beautiful video of INS Chakra on its way to Vishakhaptnam from Vladivostok. I have watched this video number of times, and I am pretty sure many of you would also do the same, background music is also amazing.

( Video Courtesy - Uploaded to youtube by Shiv Aroor )

It has been posted on youtube by one of my favorite Defence Journalist - Shiv Aroor.

Enjoy.

INS Arihant SSBN completes Harbour Acceptance Trials

Navy Chief Admiral D.K. Joshi's has disclosed that the nation would soon get to hear good news on Arihant submarine. It is believed that the reactor will go critical, setting the stage for sea trial sometime in the first half of 2013. 

Admiral Joshi said harbour acceptance trials for INS Arihant have been completed, sea trials are expected to begin early next year. If everything remained in place, the submarine is expected to be ready for induction by late 2013. It will be one of the most significant achievements of country's submarine building capability.

 INS Arihant first image ( Image Courtesy - pacificsentinel.blogspot.com )

The submarine will be fitted with K-15 submarine launched ballistic missile which is under development. The trials of 700 km K-15 missile have already been carried out. While Arihant's induction is being eagerly awaited, the navy has fully integrated recently acquired Akula class submarine from Russia. INS Chakra is on ten year lease.

The navy is also working on a new base near the Andhra Pradesh coast for its nuclear submarines. The project Varsha, has been going on for more than two years now. It will be one of the most prominent facilities in the eastern coast. The western coast already has a new base at Karwar in Karnataka.

Some of the new naval assets are now being deployed on the eastern coast strengthening the fleet with modern warships and submarines.

 News Courtesy - http://indiatoday.intoday.in

Indian Navy - Karwar Naval Base - Progress Update

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), has cleared the Rs 13,000 Crore expansion plan for the Karwar naval base in coastal Karnataka, which will eventually house two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.

“Inaugurated by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in October 1986, work on phase-I of the project was completed after two decades at a cost of Rs 2,628.82 crore. In phase-I, berthing facilities for 11 ships and 10 yard crafts were created, along with an airstrip and a residential township. The initial cost estimate was Rs 350 crore.

Karwar Naval Base ( Image Courtesy - defenseindustrydaily.com )

In phase-II, berthing facility will be enhanced significantly, besides creating a dockyard and a full-fledged airbase. There will also be logistics and other support centres, a Navy officer said. After its completion, the Karwar base will house 30 warships. 

On Monday, Defence Minister A K Antony informed Parliament that expansion of the Karwar Naval base was in line with India's strategic concerns and operational readiness. The delay in approving phase-II of Project Sea Bird was due to unavailability of Indian companies which are eligible to undertake projects of such magnitude.

News Courtesy - deccanherald.com

Project 75I - Indian Navy Submarines - Progress Report

Indian Navy has now turned its focus towards strengthening its undersea combat capabilities. Navy is now eyeing to acquire next generation submarines, under the Project 75I. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the government is willing to spend more than $10 billion on Indian Navy’s undersea fleet. 

Confirming the development Navy chief Admiral DK Joshi said the Defence Ministry’s acquisition council had given the go-ahead for buying six submarines under a project codenamed P-75I. Joshi also stated that a global tender in this regard would be floated very soon.

Joshi said the new subs – bigger than the Scorpene – would be equipped with air-independent propulsion systems to recharge their batteries without having to surface for more than three weeks. “The submarines would also be equipped with land attack missile capability,” Defence Minister AK Antony informed the Lok Sabha. 

Lada Class Submarine - Russia is offering export version of Lada (Amur) for Project 75I

( Image Courtesy - submarinersworld.blogspot.com)

Currently, six Scorpene-class submarines are being built at the Mazagon Dock Ltd with technology from DCNS under a $4.3-billion ( Rs. 23,562 crore) project called P-75 

The Indian Navy’s existing submarine fleet consists of 10 Russian Kilo-class, four German HDWs and an Akula nuclear-powered attack submarine leased from Russia at $1 billion ( Rs. 5,500 crore). Apart from that INS Arihant is also expected to join the fleet by mid of 2013. At least two more vessels of Arihant class are in various stages of construction.

Indian Navy’s move to acquire next generation submarines is aimed at countering the threat emerging from China, which has more than 50 conventional submarines in its fleet, but nearly two-thirds of those are outdated. This means that only 20 Chinese submarines are advanced enough to be a serious threat for enemy warships.

News Courtesy - zeenews.india.com

INS VIkramaditya to start final sea-trials by July 2013

The Indian aircraft carrier, the Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov), being upgraded by the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, will resume at-sea trials in early July 2013, a spokesman for the Russian Navy's Main Staff told Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.

"Under the new timeframe, the Vikramaditya will leave the harbor on July 3. The at-sea trials plan will be fully implemented, despite the previous results," he said. But before the sea trials the ship will spend two months at the Sevmash dock, where its underwater part will be examined between early May and late June.

INS Vikramaditya at sea-trials in 2012 ( Image Courtesy - jeffhead.com )

He said steam boilers malfunctioned when the aircraft carrier was undergoing sea trials, which necessitated adjustments in the delivery schedule. United Shipbuilding Corporation President Andrei Dyachkov told the media on in St. Petersburg that the work on the Vikramaditya would be finished by October 2013 and the ship will be handed over to the Indian customer before the end of 2013.

News Courtesy - rbth.ru

INS Viraat to remain in service till 2020, in Kochi for a refit

INS Viraat has arrived in Kochi for its periodic refit at the Cochin Shipyard (CSL). The work is expected to last at least three months

The Indian Navy’s flagship, now berthed at the Cochin Port, is expected to be dry-docked at the shipyard, primarily for the restoration of its underwater surface and gears.

INS Viraat in Indian Ocean ( Image Courtesy - asianetindia.com )

In the refit, INS Viraat’s hull and underwater equipment will be cleaned and probed for corrosion and, if need be, weak hull parts reinforced with fresh metal plates.

The hull will also get a fresh coat of corrosion-resistant paint. Everything underwater — the rudder, propeller and so on — will be checked and made fail-safe. Concurrently, the systems and equipment on board the ship will also get a lift as per the Navy’s maintenance schedule, naval sources said.

The INS Viraat is said to be in good shape and expected to be in service at least till 2018 or may be even 2020, by which time the Navy would have inducted the Vikramaditya and, possibly, the Vikrant as well.

News Courtesy - thehindu.com

INS Vikramaditya to be inducted by last quarter of 2013

"The delivery of aircraft carrier Vikramaditya has been delayed to the last quarter of 2013", Defence Minister A K Antony said in Lok Sabha.

In reply to a written query, the minister said original cost of the project was finalised at $978.4 million in 2004 for its delivery in 2008 but in 2010, it was "renegotiated and revised" to $2.3 billion for delivery in 2012.

"The total cost of the project would remain at $2.3 billion at the time of delivery in last quarter of 2013," Antony informed the House.

INS Vikramaditya at sea trials ( Image Courtesy - jeffhead.com )

On steps to meet operational preparedness of the Navy, the Defence Minister said, "In the interim, the operational requirement of the Navy would be met by INS Viraat, which would remain in service till the induction of Vikramaditya."

Antony said during trials of the warship in 2012, tests on the main propulsion plant could not be completed due to defects encountered on boiler section and its rectification is likely to take six months. However, during trials the aircraft carrier has performed well in almost all other areas including Mig 29 K take off and landings.

News Courtesy - economictimes.indiatimes.com

Airrcat Carrier INS Vikrant - Construction Progress Update

The Defence Ministry will soon move the Union Cabinet for an additional Rs. 2000 crore to meet the cost overrun for completing the first phase of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) being constructed at the Cochin Shipyard - on India's western seaboard.

The IAC, which is likely to be named INS Vikrant, is likely to be over 40,000 tonnes and is biggest ship that India has ever built. The construction of the ship has been delayed due several reasons primarily because India was unable to procure special steel from Russia and also because gear boxes produced by a Gujarat-based firm in collaboration with the German partner had been found to be faulty.

Public sector giant, Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has come to rescue of the Indian Navy by producing the special quality steel. The first of the two remade gear boxes have reached Kochi a few days ago.

INS Vikrant under construction, at Cochin ( Image Courtesy - freewebs.com )

Defence Minister, Mr A K Antony who reviewed the progress of the construction of the ship today directed Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma to constantly monitor the progress of the construction and formed empowered apex committee. Defence Minister Antony has asked Cochin ship yard to come with a "firm date of delivery". Sources said that Mr Antony has also told the shipyard that "we cannot go on hearing excuses. Everybody has to be accountable for the warship which is a national project and responsibilities in case of further slippages will have to be fixed."

The aircraft carrier is critical to India's ambition to emerge as a dominant player in the Indian Ocean region. Although India needs at least two, if not three, aircraft carriers, however, to ensure that it has at least one carrier available at all times, at present it is still pushing the 50 year old British made war horse INS Viraat.

With the USA likely to reduce its presence in the Persian Gulf, the Indian Navy desperately needs major assets like Aircraft Carriers to maintain its presence and also shape the developments in the volatile gulf region. "It is because we're uncertain about when we are likely to get the next carrier we have been keeping INS Viraat in the best shape possible," a senior Naval officer told NDTV. 

INS Viraat which has gone through over a dozen major and minor refits, is currently undergoing another refit is likely to be in the docks and out of action till March 2013. This refit will make the carrier operational, at least till 2020.

News Courtesy - ndtv.com