INS Viraat (R22)

INS Viraat (R22) (Sanskrit, Virāṭa meaning Giant) is a Centaur-class aircraft carrier in service with the Indian Navy. INS Viraat is the flagship of the Indian Navy, the oldest carrier in service and one of two aircraft carriers based in the Indian Ocean Region.

Viraat is the second largest ship in the Indian Navy after the INS Jyoti (A58).

Viraat was completed and commissioned in 1959 as the Royal Navy's HMS Hermes and was transferred to India in 1987. In 2009 there were reports that after that year's refit was concluded, India might keep the aircraft carrier in service until 2020. By then, the warship would have completed 60 years of service, over twice its initially estimated sailing life of 25 years. At that time the two Indigenous Aircraft Carriers (IACs) seemed likely to be fully operational, which was the reason to keep Viraat operational until then, according to unnamed Navy officers.

Royal Navy Service
INS Viraat was originally commissioned in the British Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on 18 November 1959, fifteen years after she was laid down in June 1944. During her career as Hermes, she served as the flagship of the Royal Navy's task force during the Falkland Islands campaign in 1982. She would serve the Royal Navy another three years until she was decommissioned from active duty in 1985.

Induction into Indian Navy
After evaluating vessels from several countries, particularly the Garibaldi-class of Italian ships, the Indian Navy purchased the vessel in April 1986 and gave her an extensive refit at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, England, to allow for continued operability into the next decade. New fire control equipment, navigation radars, improved NBC protection, and deck landing aids were installed in this refit. Boilers were converted to operate on distillate fuel.

First mid-service refit
In September 1993, the engine room of Viraat flooded, putting the vessel out of service for several months. By 1995, the vessel was back in service and had a new search radar.

Second mid-service refit
Between July 1999 and April 2001, INS Viraat completed another life-extension refit which was expected to extend her serviceability until 2010. This refit upgraded propulsion systems, added a package of sensors to sound emergency alerts, and introduced modern communication systems. In addition, a long-range surveillance radar, weapon systems, and a new hangar with fire curtains were installed. The lift system was revamped to reduce reaction time in the event of an attack and a new flood alarm system was installed. In early June 2001 Viraat returned to service after nearly two years of refit.

The vessel also took part in the International Fleet Review in Mumbai in February 2001.

Third mid-service refit
The vessel had to be towed back to dry dock for another refit in mid-2003 and returned to service only in November 2004, during which the vessel was fitted with the Barak SAM.



Fourth mid-service refit
Viraat underwent a fourth refit in Indian service from January to August 2009 at Cochin Shipyard, Kochi, India. This refit was expected to ensure her continued service in the Indian Navy until 2015. Viraat went through exercises in the Arabian Sea for a month and a half before being deployed to the Gulf of Aden.

Short refit
On 12 July 2011 INS Viraat arrived at Cochin Shipyard for a short refit scheduled to be completed in two months. As part of the refit the ship was cleaned, repaired and repainted to eliminate the problems faced by years of sea corrosion. According to Rear Adm. Anil Kumar Chawla, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence, it is possible that the ship could remain in service until 2020, provided that there are still Sea Harriers available for ship-borne operations

Fifth mid-service refit
On 2 November 2012, the Viraat arrived in Kochi for the first part of a major two-phase refit. In this first phase, scheduled to last through February 2013, the hull was cleaned, probed for corrosion and worn hull plates reinforced; the hull also received a fresh coat of corrosion-resistant paint. The carrier was then scheduled to sail to Mumbai for further upgrades to her machinery, after which it would rejoin the fleet in the summer of 2013; the refit would enable her to serve through 2016. According to a senior naval officer, this would likely be Viraat's final major refit before her decommissioning.

Decommissioning plans
In 2004, India bought the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia for US$ 2.35 billion including its complement of aircraft. It is expected to enter service in 2013–2014 as INS Vikramaditya. Viraat was expected to be replaced by 2015-16 by a new indigenous Vikrant-class carrier, but since It has had her engine and hull refurbished and electronics upgraded, she can now serve until 2020.

Structure


Viraat is fitted with a 12° ski jump to operate the Sea Harrier, a reinforced flight deck, and 1.2 in of armour over the magazines and machinery spaces. The magazine capacity includes at least 80 lightweight torpedoes. The vessel retains commando transport capability for up to 750 troops and carries four LCVP landing craft in the aft section. In a wartime scenario, the INS Viraat can embark up to 30 combat aircraft. INS Viraat is suited for two missions: supporting amphibious operations and conducting ASW operations.

Air group
(Capacity for 30 total)
 * Fleet Defence - Sea Harrier FRS51
 * Airborne Early Warning - Kamov Ka-31 Helix-B
 * ASW/ASV - Sea King Mk. 42B and Kamov Ka-28 Helix-A
 * Commando Assault and Vertical Replenishment - Sea King Mk. 42C

Combat data systems
The ship has been fitted with
 * Italian SELEX (former ELMER) communication suites
 * CAAIS action data automation; Link 10
 * SATCOM systems

Gallery
 File:INS Viraat.jpg File:Viraat.jpg File:INS Viraat Malabar 07.jpg File:INS Viraat sail Malabar 07.jpg File:Malabar 07-2 exercise.jpg File:Indian Navy ships.jpg File:Harrier land Malabar 2007.jpg File:Harrier IN Malabar 07.jpg|A Sea Harrier takes off from the deck of the Viraat File:INS Viraat (R22) Malabar 07.jpg