India has built the first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at a cost of $2.5 billion - it can carry F-18 Super Hornet, Rafale M, Tejas and MiG-29 fighters

The Indian Navy received India's first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. The country's prime minister held a ceremony in Kerala.

Here's What We Know

The cost of the new ship is $2.5 billion. The hull is 262 meters long and 62 meters wide. INS Vikrant has a total displacement of almost 45,000 tons. Four LM2500+ gas turbines with a power of over 110,000 hp are installed on board.

INS Vikrant can reach up to 28 knots (52 km/h) speed. The aircraft carrier has a maximum cruising range 7,500 nautical miles (almost 14,000 km). Armament is represented by two Barak-1 and Barak-8 vertical launchers, as well as AK-630 anti-aircraft systems.

INS Vikrant's aviation wing includes Ka-31 and MH-60R helicopters along with MiG-29 aircraft. Russian fighters are expected to be replaced in the future by the American F-18 Super Hornet, Indian Tejas or French Rafale M.

Source: India Today

Image: Naval News

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