The Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral R.K. Dhowan held a press briefing on August 1, as a curtain raiser prior to the launch of the indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC)- Project-71. The aircraft carrier to be launched on August 12 by Elizabeth Antony, wife of Defence Minister A.K. Antony, is unprecedented in terms of size and complexity compared with other indigenous warship projects. With this project, India has joined the select club of nations capable of designing and building 40,000 tonne aircraft carriers.

Designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, the ship has a length of 260 m and breadth of 60 m. It would be propelled by two shafts, each coupled to two LM 2500 gas turbines developing power sufficient to attain speeds in excess of 28 knots. The ship has an extensive endurance and a complement of 1600. The ship would have two take-off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires, capable of operating short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) aircraft mix including the indigenous LCA, as well as a range of helicopters, with hangar facilities. The carrier is designed with a very high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability. The carrier is planned to be armed with long-range surface-to-air missile system with multi-function radar and close-in weapon system. The ship would be equipped with the most modern C/D Band early air warning radar, tactical air navigational and direction finding systems. The carrier would also have carrier control approach radars to aid air operations. Integration of all weapon systems onboard the carrier would be through an indigenously developed combat management system.

The IAC is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) since November 2006. The ship is being constructed using high strength steel developed indigenously with the help of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The keel of the ship was laid by the Defence Minister on February 28, 2009. All major pre-launch equipment such as propulsion gas turbines, reduction gearboxes, diesel alternators and other auxiliary machinery have already been lowered in the ship for installation.

After the launch of the ship, the ship would be re-docked in the larger repair dock at CSL for facilitating erection of island superstructure and for completion of balance underwater work. Major outfitting work of the ship is scheduled for completion by 2016, after which basin trials and extensive sea trials of the ship would be progressed prior to delivery in 2018.