PM Modi to commission INS Vikrant, receives Guard of Honour in Kochi

|HT|

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commission INS Vikrant, marking a major milestone in India's defence. Ahead of the commissioning, PM Modi received the Guard of Honour at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.

INS Vikrant is India's first indigenous aircraft carrier and the largest ship ever built in India's maritime history. PM Modi commissioned the carrier, housing state-of-the-art automation features and built at a cost of ₹20,000 crore on Friday.

INS Vikrant will contribute to ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region. Aircraft landing trials on board INS Vikrant will begin in November and are expected to be completed by mid-2023. MiG-29K jets will operate from the warship for the first few years.

With the construction of 'Vikrant', India has joined a select group of nations such as the US, the UK, Russia, China and France, having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.

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