While onboard, the President received a comprehensive briefing on the Indian Navy’s role, charter, and operational concepts. She observed various naval operations, including deck-based fighter take-offs and landings, missile-firing drills from a warship, submarine manoeuvres, and a flypast of over 30 aircraft, concluding with a traditional steam-past of the fleet.Following her observation, President Murmu joined the crew of INS Vikrant for lunch and later addressed the fleet, with her speech broadcast across all units at sea.As reported by TNIE, INS Vikrant, the lead ship during this display, is the largest ship ever built in India’s maritime history. It boasts 76 percent indigenous content, including machinery and equipment sourced from major Indian industrial houses and over 100 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).The keel of INS Vikrant was laid in February 2009, and it was commissioned in September 2022. The carrier is named in honour of its historic predecessor, India’s first aircraft carrier, which played a vital role in the 1971 war.
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