To start with, after Independence, India fully depended on the west for modern weaponry. Later on, the erstwhile USSR also came in a big way to strengthen our armed forces. But such a dependence did not appear reasonable and India put her best foot forward for self-dependence. This surprised our suppliers as they could have lost a good market for earning huge foreign exchange. So, at the instance of the USA, we were humiliated and denied first the Heavy Water and then the Cryogenic Rocket Engine for our atomic energy programme. Then we realized the importance of standing on our own feet. First we produced HW and then made CRE. We have, now our own space programme ahead.
Similarly, we depended on England and Russia for aircraft carrier ships. Here also we had a bitter experience of dependence on others and we took the decision to produce indigenously aircraft carriers. Accordingly, the Naval Design Centre, New Delhi prepared an imaginative and modern design and the work started in our ship building yard at Kochi, kerala. It may be added that in this connection also we had to face delay as the old suppliers denied to give high quality steel for fabricating the hull. Indian scientists deserve congrats for producing the same quality steel locally. Earlier when China imported the pre-fabricated hull from Spain, she suffered objections from Greece and Italy while that huge structure was passing from their continental sea. Even after sorting that out, it took full two years to reach the consignment in China. Our indigenous effort not only saved us from such international objections but also saved time and foreign exchange.
As per the programme, the ship will formally come on sea water on Aug 12, 2013. Other ingredients will be provided and if everything went right, the maiden aircraft carrier will be handed over to the Indian army in 2018. Thus India would be the fifth country for making an aircraft carrier of over 35,000 tons. As a matter of fact it would be of 37,500 tons. It is so big a structure that from a distance, it would look like a swimming city. Undoubtedly, the safety of such giant ship would be a problem. The manufacturers are aware of this danger. On its air strip, there will be 20 fighter planes and 10 helicopters. Despite that if any enemy tried to rush closer, the 150 km ranged surface to air missiles can effectively deal with that situation. The ship will have arrangements for nearly 1,500 naval staff to stay there. It will have all provisions like water, power, fuel, food etc for 45 days. The ship will help us to keep a close eye on the Indian Ocean. It has enhanced our power and prestige.
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