NEW DELHI, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- India's first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier Vikrant Wednesday began its sea trials off the coast of Kochi in the southern state of Kerala, officials said.
"Proud and historic day for India as the reincarnated Vikrant sails for her maiden sea trials today, in the 50th year of her illustrious predecessor's key role in victory in the 1971 war," reads a brief statement issued by the Indian navy.
The navy also described the carrier as the "largest and most complex warship ever to be designed and built in India."
An official statement said Vikrant's propulsion plants will be put to rigorous testing at the sea in addition to the trials of various navigation, communication and hull equipment.
"The commencement of sea trials of the indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) after trials of various equipment at the harbor, especially during these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic is a landmark achievement for the country," the official statement said.
The IAC is the largest warship built in the country having a displacement of about 40,000 tonnes.
The IAC is 262 meters long, 62 meters at the widest part and a height of 59 meters including the superstructure.
India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh took to social media and described it as a "realization of historic milestone."
