3 states want INS Viraat to converted it to museum

Three states— Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Goa— had shown interest in acquiring the decommissioned aircraft carrier Viraat and convert it into a maritime museum, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, said.

The British-made INS Viraat is currently docked in the Mumbai harbour after it was decommissioned on March 6, 2017.

It may be recalled that the Maharashtra government's plan to convert another aircraft carrier Vikrant had failed and the ship had to be scrapped.

INS Viraat is a Guinness Record holder for being the longest serving warship of the world, it had served for 30 years for the Indian Navy and 27 years for the Royal Navy.

Under the Indian flag, the ship was instrumental during Operation Parakram between India and Pakistan; apart from Sri Lankan Peace Keeping operation.

Its last operational deployment was for participating in an International Fleet Review in February 2016.

Viraat displaced nearly 28,500 tonne and is capable of operating Sea Harrier jump jets, a Short Take off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft and virtually all types of naval helicopters.

The 12-degree ramp on the bows is the most striking visual feature of the ship and it helps to improve the safety factor as well as the radius of operation/payload carrying capacity of Sea Harrier.

The ship is equipped with Close in Weapon System for self defence.

The Computer Aided Action Information System (CAAIS) gives the command a complete picture of the tactical scenario based on the information fed to the computer from all on board sensors.

This enables rapid decision making as reaction times, at sea, are minimal and makes possible the destruction of hostile platforms before they can threaten her.

As far as Vikrant was concerned, in 1957, she was sold to India by the United Kingdom and in 1961 she was commissioned as INS Vikrant on 4 March, 1961. She was decommissioned on 31 January, 1997. By the mid of 2015, she was scrapped.