Defence Procurement Board discusses Navy’s proposal for a second Vikrant-like aircraft carrier

Subject :Science and technology

Section: Defence Technology

Context:

The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) discussed the Indian Navy’s proposal for acquiring a second Vikrant-like aircraft carrier displacing 45,000 tonnes, and estimated a cost of around ₹40,000 crore, according to defense sources.

Details:

The project is estimated to cost around ₹40,000 crore and will see some modifications and upgrades to the design of the country’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) INS Vikrant, commissioned in September 2022, and will also be manufactured by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
IAC-2 (which is under consideration) will have a displacement of 65,000 tonnes and a Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) system for launching aircraft as well as full-electric propulsion.

INS Vikrant:

The 262m long and 62m wide INS Vikrant displacing 44,800 tonnes is powered by four General Electric LM2500 engines which give it a maximum speed of 28 knots and an endurance of 7,500 Nautical Miles.
The ship uses an aircraft-operation mode known as Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) for which it is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft, and a set of three ‘arrester wires’ for their recovery onboard.
The Navy also operates the 44,500-tonne carrier INS Vikramaditya, which also employs the STOBAR mechanism, procured from Russia in November 2013.

Defense Acquisition Council (DAC):

The DAC is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard.
The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council.
It was formed, after the Group of Ministers recommendations on ‘Reforming the National Security System’, in 2001, post Kargil War (1999).
Hierarchy:
- Services Procurement Board (SPB) chaired by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) for cases upto Rs. 300 crore,
- Defence Procurement Board (DPB) chaired by Defence Secretary for cases having value more than Rs. 300 crore and upto Rs. 500 crore and
- Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Raksha Mantri for cases beyond Rs. 500 crore.