|
New
Delhi, 27 March 2005
There
was joy in Naval Aviation circles as the Indian Navy
announced the full details of its Carrier programme,
earlier called by the misnomer Air Defence Ship
(ADS) to keep the IAF and Government happy.
Government sanctioned the design and construction of
an indigenous Air Defence Ship in Jan 2003 at a cost
of Rs. 3261 crores. This was the most prestigious
project, which the Indian Navy had taken up so far.
The design and construction of an aircraft carrier
is a technical complexity whose dimensions far
outstrip any such challenge faced hitherto by the
Indian Navy. Only three other nations have built
such a large carrier in the past. The carrier with a
deep displacement of 37,500 T is being designed to
operate a mix of 12 MiG-29K, 8 LCA/Sea Harrier, 10
ALH and Ka31 aircraft. The ship will be built at
Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Kochi. Over Rs. 200 crs from
the naval budget have been provided for augmentation
of infrastructure facilities to enable CSL to
execute the ADS order. It was envisaged that the
yard would incur an expenditure to the tune of Rs.
500 crs. a year to be able to deliver ADS on
schedule.
General
Features
The
ship has a length of 252 m, breadth of 58 m, draft
of 8.4 m, depth of 25.6 m and a deep displacement of
37,500 tonnes. The ship will be propelled by four GE
LM2500 Gas Turbines same as the Type 17, generating
a total power of 80 MW (1,20,000 HP approx.) thereby
enabling the ship to do a maximum speed of 28 knots.
The ship will have an endurance of 7,500 NM at 18
knots and the logistics endurance of 45 days. The
ship will have a complement of 1560 i.e. 1400
sailors and 160 officers. It can carry a maximum of
30 aircrafts and 17 of these can be accommodated in
the hangar. The air operations can take place up to
sea state 5. The ship will have two runways, one
with ski jump and a landing strip with 3 arrester
wires.
Design
Design
of this prestigious ship is being undertaken by the
Navy’s own Design Bureau at Kailash Colony in New
Delhi under Cmde MK Badhwar and Cdr Kushawa as the
main elements besides their strong team. The
preliminary design has already been completed and
the work related to detailed design is in hand.
Production drawings for approximately 5000 tonnes of
steel work are already available in the yard. The
ship will be built using IHOP (Integrated Hull
Outfit and Painting) method and modular construction
for which GODREJ, STACO of Korea and a firm from
Dubai are in competition. The ship will be
constructed using high strength ABA grade steel
developed in house between DRDO and SAIL. About 456
tonnes of steel has already been received in the
yard from Russia and Bhillai. The ADS will require
about 20,000 tonnes of steel.
Contracts
Leading
Italian ship design and construction yard M/s
Fincantieri has been selected by CSL to assist them
in integrating the main propulsion system, making
the main engine room layouts and for preparation of
the Build Specifications for the ship. The inputs in
respect of MiG-29 K will be provided by the Russians
who will also assist in the associated design work
for aviation facilities such as Flight Deck, Hangar,
Aircrafts Lifts, Ammunition Lifts, Aircraft Launch
& Recovery systems etc.
Major
Project Milestones
The
steel cutting of ADS is scheduled to begin on 11 Apr
05 and the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri will be the chief
guest for the ceremony. The keel of the ship is to
be laid in Oct 07 with lowering of pre-outfitted
engine room blocks into the Building Dock at CSL.
The ship after construction and trials is scheduled
for delivery in 2012.
|