Work starts on India?s aircraft carrier

India began an eight-year project to build an aircraft carrier in its most ambitious military programme to date. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee launched the construction of the 37,500 tonne carrier at the Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, a naval spokesman said.

The carrier will carry 30 British- and Russian-made jet fighters as well as locally-designed light combat aircraft which took India more than 22 years to develop. The shipbuilder is scheduled to hand over the 252 metre long carrier to the 137-ship Indian navy by 2012.

Powered by four gas turbines, the carrier will have a range of 7,500 nautical miles, will have a top speed of 28 knots and will carry 160 officers and 1,400 sailors. She will be fitted with two 200 metre-long runways and a landing deck for helicopters.

The Indian navy designed the carrier and the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri will help Cochin Shipyard integrate the main propulsion system and perform other specialised tasks. Last year India signed a $1.5 billion deal with Russia for a 40,000 tonne aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, which is slated to join the Indian navy in 2008 after a refit. Besides the aircraft carrier, India is building 19 other ships, including frigates and corvettes.