Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant has successfully completed its maiden sea trials and returned to Kochi harbour. 

Built by the Cochin Shipyard Limited, the 'Made in India' aircraft carrier's performance, including hull, main propulsion, power generation and distribution and auxiliary equipment, were tested during Vikrant's maiden sea voyage. 

Once inducted, Vikrant would headline the country's quest for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and the Indian Navy's 'Make in India' initiative. 

Over 76 per cent of components on the 7000-tonne aircraft carrier is indigenous. 

Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said that Vikrant's trials progressed as planned and system parameters proved satisfactory. Vikrant would undergo a series of sea trials to establish that all equipment and systems are operational prior to being handed over to the force.

Kochi-based Southern Naval Command's Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral AK Chawla reviewed the trials on the last day of Vikrant's voyage. 

According to the Navy, the successful completion of maiden trials sorties marks a major milestone activity and is a historical event as it comes it the backdrop of challenges faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The successful sea trial is testimony to the dedication of a large number of stakeholders for over a decade, Commander Madhwal said.

The aircraft carrier, which is 262 m long, 62 m at the widest part and stands tall at 59 m including the superstructure, is expected to be handed over to the Indian Navy by next year to coincide with India’s 75th anniversary of Independence.

There are 14 decks in all onboard the aircraft carrier. This includes five decks in the ship's superstructure. 

The warship has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1700 people, having gender-sensitive accommodation spaces for women officers.  

The warship has been designed to accommodate an assortment of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft and offers a high degree of automation for ship navigation, machinery operation and survivability.

With Vikrant's induction, India is set to join a select group of nations that have the capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier. 

Experts say that Vikrant would strengthen India's position in the Indian Ocean Region and its quest to be a blue water naval force.