India unveiled its first locally assembled aircraft carrier on Friday, a milestone in the government’s efforts to reduce its reliance on foreign weapons and counter China’s growing military power in the region.
“INS Vikrant”, one of the largest warships in the world with a length of 262 meters, will officially enter service after 17 years of construction and testing.
“Today ‘INS Vikrant’ has filled the country with new confidence,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the launch ceremony in the southern state of Kerala. said.
We have joined the league of selected countries that can build such large aircraft carriers in their own countries.”
The “INS Vikrant”, which will have around 1,600 sailors, was purchased second-hand from Russia, long the main arms supplier to New Delhi, and assembled on Indian soil.
The Modi government is trying to limit the country’s reliance on foreign military purchases and establish a national defense equipment industry amid concerns over China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean.
source: Noticias
