Tuesday, August 21, 2012

INS Vishal to be a CATOBAR Aircraft Carrier


The Indian navy is likely to call an end to its tryst with ski-jump aircraft carriers, deciding that its next big vessel will be a flat-top with a catapult-launch system.


Artist Impression of INS Vikrant, a STOBAR Carrier ( Image Courtesy - warshipsifr.com )

While India's first home-built carrier, known as the Vikrant, is to be a 44,000-ton short-takeoff-but-arrested-recovery (Stobar) carrier, the second ship—tentatively titled Vishal (“Immense”)—is seen as a 65,000-ton flat-top with a steam-catapult system. The Naval Design Bureau, which oversees design and implementation of all indigenous warship building efforts, is expected to freeze its requirements by year-end.




Artist Impression of a CATOBAR Carrier ( Image Courtesy - navyrecognition.com )


A commodore with the Naval Design Bureau says, “A decision has been taken to move away from conventional STOBAR and Short-Take-Off-Vertical-Landing (STOVL) designs.”

The Indian carrier Vikramaditya—the former Russian carrier Admiral Gorshkov—and first indigenous carrier (Vikrant) will be transition vessels to Stobar operations. The next logical step is catapult-assisted takeoff-and-barrier-arrested recovery (Catobar), “which brings with it immense advantages in the mix of assets we can deploy on deck,” says the commodore.

A flat-top configuration also supports the navy's interest in fixed-wing airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft for operations off a carrier, and comes as good news for Northrop Grumman, which has spent the better part of the last decade pitching its E-2 Hawkeye to the Indian navy.


News Courtesy - aviationweek.com

7 comments:

  1. Not bad for a country with an abysmal public health record not to mention a disgraceful gender disparity because of selective abortion and infanticide in favor of male fetuses and children. India needs to get its act together to decide priorities. Arms race in the third world is offensive.

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    1. I see your point, but this argument does not hold for a few reasons. India spends less than 2% of GDP on defence which is one of the lowest in the world despite having daunting security challenges and requirement for resources. And most of all, building this carrier will create hi tech jobs which will give back even more to the economy through diversified industries and multiplier effect. So India needs to invest in big projects like these if it wants to develop and reduce poverty.

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    2. 1/4 of indians can go hungry to defend her/his mother land no problem for us INDIANS.

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    3. and which perfect and defenseless country are you from? Gender disparity and aircraft carriers?!

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  2. Hmm.....looks like Queen Elizabeth class with a Ski Jump, great work artists xD

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  3. india has a one of the world largest coast area so as indian navy need to increase their strength ,, as we see Pakistan and china are increasing their naval strength ,, we need at least 3 aircraft carrier so we can proper patrolling in indian sea and Arabian sea ,, now its time to think that is mod investment is enough in our armed forces , when I see the responsibility of the our armed forces and budget I found its very less ,, we only spent 2.5 % of our GDP , Now Question is , is it enough for armed forces and their needs ,,and another question is why every DRDO is HAL Project is delayed for long time , is there any responsblity of the mod to look out the project and the reson of delay ,,,,, our most of the project are still not completed and we spend over lack of million $ ,,

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  4. I wonder where India will be getting CATOBAR technology, expertise and operations? There are only 2 countries operating CATOBAR flat tops today, the US and France (which is essentially modeled on a US design including operations).

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