New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be formally commissioned INS Vikrant, India’s first home built aircraft carrier today.  After completing almost a year of sea trials, the 45,000 tonnes warship has been built at a cost of ₹ 20,000 crore.

The aircraft carrier will be commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Cochin Shipyard. During the event, PM Modi will also unveil the new Naval Ensign. The Navy had earlier said the new insignia will be befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage. INS Vikrant is the largest warship to be built in India at 262 metres long and 62 metres wide,. It can have 30 aircraft on board, including MiG-29K fighter jets and helicopters. The warship can accommodate a crew of nearly 1,600.

INS Vikrant, in the beginning, will have MiG fighters and some choppers. The Navy is in the process of procuring 26 deck based aircraft, having narrowed down to some Boeing and Dassault aircraft. The warship was in the works for over a decade. Multiple phases of sea trials of INS Vikrant have been completed since August 21^st last year. Aviation trials will be held after the navy has its command.

INS Vikrant is named after its predecessor, which played a key role during the 1971 war against Pakistan for the liberation of Bangladesh.