INS Viraat completes 25 years with our navy

The “mother’’, as India’s solitary aircraft carrier INS Viraat is affectionately called, on Saturday celebrated its 25th anniversary of being commissioned into the Indian Navy. Originally commissioned in the British Royal Navy as HMS Hermes in November, 1959, INS Viraat was inducted into the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987. 
With age, the warship has lost some its teeth. Only 11 Sea Harrier jump-jets, for instance, are now available to operate from its deck.  The Navy may be forced to stretch INS Viraat’s operational life even beyond 2014-15 if the induction of the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) being constructed at the Cochin Shipyard is delayed.