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Now, Defence Secy-headed panel to monitor delayed aircraft carrier project
An apex committee headed by the Defence Secretary will regularly monitor the pace of construction of the first indigenous aircraft carrier which is running at least three years behind schedule adding to cost escalation. The Defence Ministry will also approach the Finance Ministry for additional funds and the issue will come up soon in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The initial estimated cost was about `12,000 crore without cost of aircraft and helicopter fleet.
Irked by delays, Defence Minister AK Antony took these decisions here on Tuesday and told the stakeholders during a review meeting of the construction of the carrier that “we cannot be hearing about excuses any longer as this project is of national importance.”
The 40,000-ton ship is under construction at Cochin Shipyard and the delivery schedule is already late by three years. The ship was to be ready for sea trials by 2015 and various issues like non-availability of special steel and specialised gear boxes has now pushed the launch date to 2018.
It means that the ship will undergo sea trials after 2018 and if it meets all the technical parameters, the platform will be inducted into the Navy in 2020. Moreover, India’s plans to have at least two aircraft carriers will also take a hit as the lone carrier now in service INS Viraat is in the last stages of its operational life and the Navy will have only Gorshkov in its fleet in the next one decade. The Russian made ship is likely to be inducted into the Navy late next year.
Given this background, Antony took stock of the progress of the prestigious project with the Cochin Shipyard chief, Navy chief, Director General (Acquisition) and Secretary, ministry of shipping, officials said after the one and half hour meeting.
Antony had laid the keel of the ship in Cochin on February 28, 2009 and the ship will be capable of operating an aircraft mix of Russian MiG-29K, Kamov-31 helicopters and indigenously designed and developed Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).
The ship will have two take off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires and can carry a maximum of 30 aircraft with adequate hangar capacity. Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR SAM) system with Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and Close- In Weapon System (CIWS) will form the arsenal of the ship.
An apex committee headed by the Defence Secretary will regularly monitor the pace of construction of the first indigenous aircraft carrier which is running at least three years behind schedule adding to cost escalation. The Defence Ministry will also approach the Finance Ministry for additional funds and the issue will come up soon in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The initial estimated cost was about `12,000 crore without cost of aircraft and helicopter fleet.
Irked by delays, Defence Minister AK Antony took these decisions here on Tuesday and told the stakeholders during a review meeting of the construction of the carrier that “we cannot be hearing about excuses any longer as this project is of national importance.”
The 40,000-ton ship is under construction at Cochin Shipyard and the delivery schedule is already late by three years. The ship was to be ready for sea trials by 2015 and various issues like non-availability of special steel and specialised gear boxes has now pushed the launch date to 2018.
It means that the ship will undergo sea trials after 2018 and if it meets all the technical parameters, the platform will be inducted into the Navy in 2020. Moreover, India’s plans to have at least two aircraft carriers will also take a hit as the lone carrier now in service INS Viraat is in the last stages of its operational life and the Navy will have only Gorshkov in its fleet in the next one decade. The Russian made ship is likely to be inducted into the Navy late next year.
Given this background, Antony took stock of the progress of the prestigious project with the Cochin Shipyard chief, Navy chief, Director General (Acquisition) and Secretary, ministry of shipping, officials said after the one and half hour meeting.
Antony had laid the keel of the ship in Cochin on February 28, 2009 and the ship will be capable of operating an aircraft mix of Russian MiG-29K, Kamov-31 helicopters and indigenously designed and developed Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).
The ship will have two take off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires and can carry a maximum of 30 aircraft with adequate hangar capacity. Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR SAM) system with Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and Close- In Weapon System (CIWS) will form the arsenal of the ship.
