Following its commissioning, the IAC-1 will be christened INS Vikrant to honour India’s first aircraft carrier of the same name, which played an important part in the 1971 war.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi preparing to commission the new INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, on September 2, an old favourite of India will be brought back to life this week.

On September 2, the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi will commission the vessel. The launching of the INS Vikrant will be a significant step forward in the Narendra Modi government’s push for self-sufficiency, particularly in crucial industries.

According to the Indian Navy, the commissioning will be a “historical milestone in realising the Nation’s commitment to AatmaNirbharta.”

Made in India INS Vikrant

The Indian Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1) is the first aircraft carrier conceived and built in India. Vikrant was designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built at the Cochin Shipyard, a public sector shipyard, with state-of-the-art automation systems.

It is the largest ship ever built in India’s nautical history. It is the largest warship ever built in India, with a huge quantity of indigenous equipment and machinery manufactured by major Indian industrial houses as well as over 100 MSMEs.

Following its commissioning, the IAC-1 will be dubbed INS Vikrant in honour of India’s first aircraft carrier of the same name. The legendary forefather was India’s first aircraft carrier, which proved crucial in the 1971 war.

Why Is The Vikrant Commissioning Vital For India?

Aircraft carriers are an essential feature of any blue water navy and one of the country’s most valuable marine assets. Such warships enable the Navy to conduct dominance operations in other countries or locations far from its home base.

With the assigning of Vikrant, India will have two functioning aircraft carriers, which would make stronger the country’s naval safety.

The commission is also significant internationally because it adds India’s name to a relatively tiny club of nations capable of producing such exceptional aircraft, allowing India to project its influence abroad.

Previous Aircraft Carriers Of India

While the INS Vikrant will be the country’s first indigenously built warship, India has been utilising warships since 1961. None of them were made in India, including the former INS Vikrant.

The British built INS Vikrant and INS Viraat, which were introduced into the navy in 1961 and 1987, respectively, and were originally known as ‘HMS Hercules’ and ‘HMS Hermes,’ according to The Indian Express.

Later aircraft carriers, such as the INS Vikramaditya, which was commissioned by the Navy in 2013, were built in Soviet-Russia and were previously known as Admiral Gorshkov.

Not Operational Until 2023

While the INS Vikrant will be commissioned on September 2, it will not be a deployable platform that can be utilised in battle for at least the next 15 months. During this time, Vikrant will act like a massive floating air-deck devoid of ‘teeth.’

After the New York Knicks pulled away from talks on Monday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers pursued and acquired three-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in a trade with the Utah Jazz on Thursday, according to ESPN sources.

According to insiders, the Cavaliers will send the Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, rookie wing Ochai Agbaji, guard Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round selections (2025, 2027, and 2029), and two pick swaps (2026 and 2028) in exchange for Mitchell.

Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, Sexton’s agent, confirmed a four-year, $72 million sign-and-trade agreement with the Jazz.

The addition of Mitchell to a lineup that includes two 2022 All-Stars — guard Darius Garland and centre Jarrett Allen — and Rookie of the Year runner-up Evan Mobley, who appears destined to become an All-NBA player — transforms the Cavaliers into an Eastern Conference contender with potential staying power.

The Effect Of The Addition Of Mitchell To A Line-Up That Includes Two 2022 All-Stars

Utah has 13 unprotected or lightly protected first-round picks through 2029 and two 2022 first-round picks, including Kansas’ Agbaji and 7-footer Walker Kessler, who arrived with four first-round picks from Minnesota, as it reshapes its roster with offseason trades of All-Star Rudy Gobert and now Mitchell.

Utah intends to continue conversations with experienced free agents such as Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, and Mike Conley, and could be on the verge of an Oklahoma City-style draught haul.

Cleveland president of basketball operations Koby Altman had been in contact with the Jazz until late last week, but conversations stopped Friday after the two teams couldn’t reach an agreement, according to sources. Nonetheless, Altman contacted Utah general manager Justin Zanik on Tuesday morning and resumed talks, according to sources.

Why Knicks Refused To Include Quentin Grimes In A Trade With RJ Barrett To Get Mitchell?

They had a deal in place for Mitchell within 48 hours. New York possessed the assets Utah desired, and the two sides appeared to be getting closer to a deal Sunday night and into Monday, but the Knicks refused to include Quentin Grimes in a trade with RJ Barrett to get Mitchell, according to sources.

When guard Immanuel Quickley was presented as a trade replacement for Grimes, Utah wanted three unprotected first-round draught picks as part of the package, but New York would only accept a third first-round pick with top-five protections, according to sources.

According to insiders, those packages would have included Milwaukee’s 2025 first-round selection, two second-round picks, two pick swaps, and two expiring contracts from a third team. According to insiders, New York would have sent Evan Fournier and a first-round selection to a third team to avoid Utah having to pay Fournier’s remaining $37 million.

Barrett’s Contract Finalized At Four Years And Up To $120 Million

Prior to Mitchell Robinson signing his contract deal, New York and Utah talked multiple variations of a Mitchell trade, including a hefty Knicks’ first offer in early July. According to ESPN, around the start of negotiations in early July, New York offered a package that includes Barrett, Obi Toppin, Robinson, and three unprotected first-round picks. Utah turned down that offer, and Robinson signed his extension, therefore ruling out the idea of him being included in a deal.

While in trade talks with Utah, New York president Leon Rose was negotiating a rookie contract extension with Barrett’s agent, Bill Duffy, and set Monday night as a deadline with the Jazz to achieve a deal – or suspend talks to negotiate a new agreement with Barrett, according to sources.

Barrett’s contract — four years and up to $120 million, according to Duffy — included a “poison pill” provision that would have prompted the Knicks and Jazz to begin talks with new deal parameters based on the extension.

How Utah Has Made The Playoffs For The Past Six Seasons?

After the Jazz traded Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in July, Mitchell became available in trade talks. Mitchell, 25, has averaged 23.9 points and 4.5 assists per game for the Jazz over the course of his five-year career, and he has been an All-Star each of the last three seasons.

He has four years and $134.9 million left on the maximum agreement he signed during the 2020 offseason, though the last year is a $37.1 million player option. Utah has made the playoffs for the past six seasons, the longest active streak in the Western Conference, but has never advanced beyond the second round.

Following last season’s first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the organization underwent dramatic changes, including the departure of coach Quin Snyder, the appointment of Will Hardy to replace him, and the trades of Gobert and starting forward Royce O’Neale