The Defence Procurement Board (DPB), a key body of the Indian Defence Ministry, has accorded in-principal approval to the ambitious proposal for the construction of second indigenous aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy.
Noteworthy, the construction of a second aircraft carrier, to be known as IAC II, is expected to cost of around Rs 40,000 crores.
The mega procurement proposal will shortly be placed before the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the Defence Ministry’s top body on procurement.
The DAC, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is likely to meet this week and it is learnt that the proposal for the IAC-II will be examined by it.
The IN has been making a strong push for having the IAC-II with a displacement of 45,000 tonnes with the envisaged specifications.
Also, worth mentioning that India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (IAC I) was commissioned in September by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore, INS Vikrant has a sophisticated air defence network and anti-ship missile systems.
It has the capacity to hold 30 fighter jets and helicopters. At the commissioning ceremony of the vessel, Modi called it a “floating city” and that it is a reflection of India becoming self-reliant in defence.
The sources said the IAC II will be kind of a repeat order of the IAC I.
According to the plan, the IAC II will be built by state-run Cochin Shipyard.
At present, India has two aircraft carriers — INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. INS Vikramaditya is a Russian origin platform.
Source: https://www.ptinews.com/
