Defence Secretary-Led Panel Reviews Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Project

This is the 13th EAC review meeting of the project and the first to be held after the signing of the Phase-III of the IAC contract on 31 October 2019 between the Indian Government, MoD and Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar on 20 January 2020 reviewed the progress of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-P71) project at Cochin Shipyard Limited.

The review by Kumar-led Empowered Apex Committee (EAC) “critically” examined the current status of the project. The IAC is in a “very” advanced stage of construction and is scheduled to commence basin trials in early 2020 followed by the sea trials by mid 2020, a statement by the Indian Navy read.

This is the 13th EAC review meeting of the project and the first to be held after the signing of the Phase-III of the IAC contract on 31 October 2019 between the Government of India, Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Limited.

IAC construction is in an advanced state with all four gas turbines, main engines having been started, Power Generation Systems comprising of eight Diesel Alternators ready and trials of ship’s major systems and auxiliary equipment in progress.

The statement added that the IAC had “successfully” completed the pre-contractors sea trials dry dock work package in December 2019.

Basin trials are conducted for proving of the propulsion, transmission and shafting systems and is scheduled in early half of 2020. The Aircraft Carrier would be ready to commence the sea trials once the basin trials are successfully completed.

Defence Secretary was accompanied by Vice Admiral Ashok Kumar, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral G.S. Pabby, Chief of Materiel, Vice Admiral S.R. Sarma, Controller Warship Production and Acquisition from IHQ MoD (Navy) and other senior officers from IHQ MoD (Navy), Warship Overseeing Team and Carrier Acceptance and Trials Team.