Page 12 - Lesson 10.xps

Module - IV Role and Equipment used by the Armed Forces

Indian Armed Forces :
Weapons and War Equip- Carrier (INS Viraat). An aircraft carrier is basically an airbase. In other words, it has
ment and Modernisation warplanes on board that can take off and land while the ship is in water. INS
Vikramaditya was bought from Russia and refitted. It can carry upto 34 Fixed Wing
Aircrafts and Helicopters. The MIG 29K is the main fighter aircraft on board. With
over 1,600 personnel on board, Vikramaditya is literally a 'Floating City'. Associated
with this large population is a mammoth logistics requirement. The ship requires nearly
Note
a lakh of eggs, 20,000 litres of milk and 16 tonnes of rice per month to feed the crew.
With her complete stock of provisions, she is capable of sustaining herself at sea for a

period of about 45 days.

ACTIVITY 10.10

See INS Vikramaditya in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGhhwgQtuUg

• Attack Submarines : An attack submarine is a submarine that can sail under
water and attack and sink other submarines, surface ships and merchant vessels.
They could be deployed in groups/alone or assigned to protect other ships
(like aircraft carriers). India has 15 attack submarines out of which 14 are
conventional and one is a Nuclear submarine. A nuclear submarine has a nuclear

power plant. All naval vessels use diesel engines for propulsion. A nuclear
submarine uses nuclear energy for propulsion.

• Destroyer : A destroyer, as the name suggests, is a fast and versatile long-
endurance warship. They are employed to escort bigger ships (like Aircraft
Carriers) and engage in anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and anti-surface warfare.
India has 10 destroyers. The Israeli Barak missiles and the indigenous naval
version of Brahmos missiles are deployed on destroyers. INS Kochi is a
destroyer class ship.

• Frigate : A Frigate is a warship that are smaller than destroyers and are

employed to protect other warships and merchant marine ships. It can also
be used in anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and anti-surface roles. India has 15
Frigates.

• Corvette : Corvettes are swift, manoeuvrable, lightly armed warship. They
are smaller than a Frigate. They are usually considered the smallest vessel to
be called a proper warship. India has 22 Corvettes.

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MILITARY STUDIES