India to Build Second Homegrown Aircraft Carrier

The Indian Navy has sent requests for proposals to four potential foreign contractors to assist it in constructing its second indigenous aircraft carrier, Indian media reported last week.

India’s Navy has outlined some of the ship’s specifications in a letter of request to global shipbuilders. The four companies that received the letter are the US-based Lockheed Martin; Britain’s BAE Systems, French shipbuilder, DCNS; and Russia’s Rosoboronexport state arms exporter.
India has requested a 300-meter long aircraft carrier that displaces 65,000 tons. The Navy also said that the ship should be able to travel at 30 knots and carry 30-35 fixed wing combat aircraft and about 20 rotary wing aircraft.
Unlike India’s existing aircraft carriers, which utilize ski-jump launch systems, the new one, expected to be called INS Viraat, will have a catapult launched but arrested landing (CATOBAR) system, The National Interest wrote on Monday.
It might also use an advanced electromagnetic system to launch fixed-wing aircraft.
Responses to the letter of request are expected by July 22, with potential contractors due to provide technical and costing proposals for the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-2 (IAC-2), which is likely to be named INS Vishal (Grand).
Lockheed Martin and Russia’s Rosoboronexport are seen as the frontrunners to win the contract.

 sputniknews