How Does An Aircraft Carrier Operate?

“One US aircraft carrier has a more powerful air force than 70% of all countries” This is the reason that the aircraft carrier plays an important role in the major power projection of any country. And it is not only considered to be the main sign of military strength but also of economic stability. A single US carrier group costs approx $5 - $7 million per day to operate an aircraft carrier. So today we will know why the cost of operating an aircraft carrier per day is so high. Also, how does this aircraft carrier operates? How Does An Aircraft Carrier Operate? Kindly note this point that we will understand the operation procedure regarding the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon. INS Vikrant Image Credits: @SpokespersonMoD According to its name, the main job of an aircraft carrier is to carry fighter aircraft. Along with the aircraft, fighter helicopters and AW&Cs aircraft are also present on top of it. INS Vikrant can simultaneously carry a total of 36 to 40 aircraft including 26 MiG-29K, 4 x Kamov Ka-31 AEW&C, 4 x Sikorsky MH-60R ASW and 2 x HAL Dhruv NUH. In addition to operating such a large warship, INS Vikrant has 196 officers, and 1,449 sailors, including aircrew, for maintenance and repair of aircraft and helicopters on board. INS Vikrant has all the facilities for the daily activities of all these Naval Officers, Sailors, and Air Force Crew. This includes everything from living and eating to GYM and sports. To give power to this 45,000-ton carrier, 4 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbine and 2 × Elecon COGAG gearbox have been installed in it. Generating more than 80 megawatts (110,000 hp) of power, this engine provides 30 knots (56 km/h) to INS Vikrant. It is difficult to land the aircraft on the carrier as compared to the airport because the warship is shaken by the waves in the sea. For this, the carrier is fitted with a TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation System) radar which helps in matching the angle of the aircraft with the deck. To detect other warships, and land obstacles and to provide bearing and distance for collision avoidance and navigation in it Marine Radar has been installed. Apart from this, Selex RAN-40L 3D L-Band Air Surveillance Radar has been installed on INS Vikrant. It can detect all air threads like aircraft or drones within a radius of 400 km. And the Elta EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA multifunction radar has been installed to both target air-to-surface and provide fire control guidance. This multifunction radar can track fighter-sized aircraft up to 300-450 KM and missiles up to 25+ KM. Apart from this, SATCOM radars have also been installed for satellite communication with an anti-radar system to avoid enemy missiles and aircraft. Weather radar, ACCS (advanced composite communication system), and secondary surveillance radar (SSR) have also been installed on INS Vikrant like other aircraft carriers. The multi-billion dollar aircraft carrier, on which millions of dollars of aircraft and helicopters are loaded, is equipped with equipment for its self-defense. 4 Otobreda 76 mm (3 in) dual purpose cannons and 4 only AK-630 Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) are mounted on INS Vikrant. Apart from these, INS Vikrant carries 64 Israel-made Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles. These missiles with a range of 0.5 km to 150 km can be used for both defensive and offensive purposes. An aircraft carrier is accompanied by frigates, corvettes, destroyers, and oil tankers. This fleet of aircraft carriers is called the Carrier Battle Group. Battlegroup of INS Vikrant is not yet public as it has not been inducted into service. But the carrier battle group centered on INS Vikramaditya consists of the modern Kolkata class destroyers, Shivalik and Talwar-class frigates, Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes, and new tankers. INS Chakra is expected to fill the sub-surface segment. Importance and Applications of An Aircraft Carrier An aircraft carrier is considered a floating island in the navy. Just like Keibul Lamjao national park But an aircraft carrier is an artificial city, not a natural national park. And just like other human-made things, it has been also created for any importance and application. An aircraft carrier with its strike group is considered a moveable naval and air base of a country in the sea. An aircraft carrier always keeps surveillance at sea to ensure the maritime security of any country. The aircraft carrier enhances the country's surveillance capability as an aircraft can monitor only a limited distance from the coastline. The Navy's overall surveillance range increases as aircraft carriers move helicopters and jets away from the coastline into the ocean. As we see above, an aircraft carrier is equipped with both defensive and offensive capabilities. That is why it is capable of countering as well as detecting and tracking both naval and air threats. Since carrier origins, the viability of the carrier battle group has been dependent on its capability to stay at sea for an extended duration. Specialized ships were created to deliver underway replenishment of fuel (for the carrier and its aircraft), ordnance, and other supplies essential to support operations. Carrier battle groups dedicate a great deal of planning to efficiently conduct underway replenishment to minimize the time consumed conducting replenishment. The carrier can also provide replenishment on a determinate basis to its escorts, but typically a replenishment ship such as a fast combat support ship (AOE) or replenishment oiler (AOR) pulls alongside a carrier and performs simultaneous operations with the carrier on its port side and one of the escorts on its starboard side. Read More:- Explained: Per Hour Operating Cost Of IAF’s Fighter Jets So this is the operation procedure of an aircraft carrier and its importance in the navy of any country.