Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 21
As India embarks on a journey to build another seaborne aircraft carrier, it’s looking at the very best in design and asked for international help in designing the 65,000-tonne warship that will be the frontline seagoing attack platform of the future.
The Navy has sought collaboration from the countries that have built warships of this size. Companies in the US, Russia, the UK, France and Italy are being asked if they would be keen to join hands. All these companies have made warships of this size.
“There are many issues in such warships that we don’t know of. Hence, this international collaboration,” sources said. A seagoing aircraft carrier has fighter jets, helicopters and UAVs on its deck to attack enemy targets and secure own interests. At present, India operates two carriers—one of British parentage and the other of Russia origin. An indigenous 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier is under construction at Cochin which was aided by a design of the Italian company Fincantieri. Targeted for completion by 2018-end, it will be the biggest warship ever built in India.
The international designs are now being sought for the second indigenous aircraft carrier that will be much bigger and could even be propelled by nuclear power although other options of diesel and gas turbines are being considered.
The warship will be jointly designed by the Indian Naval Design Bureau and the foreign collaborator. The Navy has set a target to decide on key elements of the next carrier by the end of 2016. India plans to have at least 80 per cent local content on the warship.
To speed up the matters, the warship could be built at two separate shipyards and then assembled at one place. A few companies do have such expertise.
Navy wants the carrier to be capable of speeds greater than 30 knots (56 km per hour), it wants to carry up to 35 fighter jets and 20 helicopters. It would have a catapult to launch fighter jets.
A US-India working group is looking to promote cooperation in aircraft carrier technology. New Delhi and Washington have discussed the matter under the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).

80 pc warship parts to be made locally

• India has asked for international help in designing a 65,000-tonne warship to be used as a frontline seagoing attack platform
• The Navy wants the carrier to be capable of gaining speeds more than 30 knots (56 km per hour), carry up to 35 fighter jets and 20 helicopters
• The plan is to have at least 80 per cent local content on the warship