Aircraft carrier INS Viraat in Kochi for maintenance work

 Kochi (PTI): INS Viraat, India's sole aircraft carrier, is here for annual maintenance work, estimated to cost around Rs 30 crore.

Underwater cleaning and painting work besides checking of underwater fittings are among the works being carried out. No major structural changes are being done now, officials said.
Depending on the progress of the work, the vessel is likely to be here for a few months, its commander Captain R Hari Kumar told reporters on board the unique warship, docked at the Ernakulam wharf.

Indian shipyard joins UK firm to build aircraft carriers for Navy

MUMBAI (BNS): A private sector Indian shipyard on Thursday announced that it has joined hands with a British firm to build aircraft carriers for the Indian Navy.

Mumbai-based Pipavav Shipyard said that it has tied up with UK’s Babcock group to build aircraft carriers for the Navy.

“This is an important milestone in Pipavav Shipyard’s efforts to become a major player in the Defence sector,” the shipyard said in its filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. 

“This event is likely to eliminate necessity to import large battle ships such as aircraft carrier in the future,” it said. 

The Babcock group is Britain’s leading naval support company. It is involved in building next generation aircraft carriers and managing naval bases. It also undertakes refitting, refuelling and decommissioning of submarines, maintaining and refitting of warships and providing equipment support on behalf of the UK government.