INS Viraat: Bought for USD 465 million, world's oldest warship is value for money
Commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1959 as HMS Hermes, INS Viraat served the British for 27 years. India acquired the aircraft carrier in 1987 and rechristened it as INS Viraat.
In Short
- INS Viraat will be decommissioned on March 6.
- India had bought it from Britain in 1987.
- It was commissioned in British Royal Navy in 1959.
World's oldest aircraft carrier INS Viraat is due to be decommissioned on March 6. The warship has had a glorious history of service in defence of the country.
As the ship is being decommissioned, the Indian Navy has said that the INS Viraat was value for money during its service.
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command Vice-Admiral Girish Luthra addressed the media today from the flight deck of INS Viraat on decommissioning.
Vice-Admiral Girish Luthra said, "INS Viraat was purchased in 1987 for USD 465 million. It has been value for money," adding "While acquiring India planned to use it for only 5 years but went on to use it for 30 years."
Commissioned into the Royal Navy in November, 1959 as HMS Hermes, it served the British for 27 years. It was used by India as its only fleet carrier for 15 years.
However, the Ministry of Defence has not yet taken a call on what will be done with this warship after she is decommissioned.
Luthra said deliberations are on with the state government of Andhra Pradesh, which wants to convert the ship into a floating hotel-cum-museum to promote it as a tourist attraction.
Vice-Admiral Luthra also said a study to find out reserve price of INS Viraat has been completed. "In case INS Viraat is not used as hotel or museum and sold in scrap, western naval command has calculated its reserve price."
Responding to query as to why the INS Viraat is not being converted into a heritage ship or museum, Luthra said, "There is a shortage of space to keep a ship stationery and needs maintenance because of which warships are not being restored as museum."
After Viraat's decommissioning, Indian Navy will have only one aircraft carrier in the form of INS Vikramaditya.
"The net indigenous fleet carrier is in making at Kochi shipyard. India Navy has always focused on available resources. We will continue our operations with what is available," Luthra said.