INS Viraat (R22) India Aircraft Carrier

INS Viraat (R22) is a Centaur-class aircraft carrier currently in service with the Indian Navy. INS Viraat is the flagship of the Indian Navy, the oldest carrier afloat, and one of the two aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean Region. INS Viraat was originally commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on 18 November 1959. During her career as Hermes, she served as the flagship of the Royal Navy's task force in the Falkland Islands campaign. She would serve the Royal Navy another three years until she was struck from active duty in 1985.

General characteristics
Class and type:	Centaur class aircraft carrier
Displacement:	23,900 tons standard 28,700 tons full load
Length:	226.5 metres (743 ft)
Beam:	48.78 metres (160.0 ft)
Draught:	8.8 metres (29 ft)
Propulsion:	2 x Parsons geared steam turbines; 4 boilers with 400 psi, 76,000 shp
Speed:	28 knots (52 km/h)
Range:	6,500 miles (10,500 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement:	Maximum 2,100; 1,207 ship's crew, 143 air crew
Sensors and processing systems:	1 x BEL/Signaal RAWL 02 air radar 1 x RAWS 08 air/surface radar 2 x BEL Rashmi navigation radars 1 x EL/M-2221 STGR fire control radar 1 x Plessey Type 904 radar 1 x FT 13-S/M Tacan system Sonar: 1 x Graseby Type 184M hull-mounted sonar
Electronic warfare and decoys:	1 x BEL Ajanta ESM Decoy: 2 x Knebworth Corvus chaff launchers
Armament:	2 x 40mm Bofors AA guns 16 x Barak SAM VL cells
Aircraft carried:	Up to 30 Normally 28 aircraft, including Sea Harriers Mk.51 and Mk.52 H-3 Sea King Mk.42 HAL Chetak HAL Dhruv

Between July 1999 and April 2001, INS Viraat completed another life-extension refit which is expected to extend her serviceability till 2010. This refit upgraded propulsion systems, added a package of sensors to sound emergency alerts, and introduced modern communication systems. In addition, long-range surveillance radar, weapon systems, and new hangar with fire curtains was 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 INS Viraat (R22) also took part in the International Fleet Review in Mumbai in February 2001. Wing commander Ashoka Padmanabhan flew the Tigermoth-B970 past its deck anchored at 1.5 nautical km from the Gateway of India. 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.

In a wartime scenario, the INS Viraat can embark up to 18 combat aircraft. INS Viraat is ideally suited for two missions: supporting amphibious operations and conducting ASW operations. Despite its age and range considerations, INS Viraat can quite effectively project naval and air power anywhere in the South Asia region.