Mumbai: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday met Indian Navy personnel onboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea on Friday. Notably, INS Vikrant played in key role in a military conflict with Pakistan as part of Operation Sindoor.
A picture of the Defence Minister posing with Indian Navy personnel onboard the aircraft carrier with MiG-29K fighter jets in the background also surfaced online.
Earlier this month, during one of the press briefings of the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Vice Admiral Pramod revealed that Pakistan's Karachi was Indian Navy's target option.
INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Prime Minister Modi in September 2022. It was built at a cost of Rs 20,000 (approx.). The aircraft carrier was designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
Operation Sindoor:
During Operation Sindoor, INS Vikrant played a crucial role in deterring Pakistan. On the intervening night of May 6 and 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Around 150 terrorists were reportedly killed in the Indian strikes. In response to India's strike on the terror camps, Pakistan tried to target Indian civilian and military installations. However, the Pakistani attack was foiled by India's robust air defence.
In the early hours of May 10, India hit several Pakistani air bases, inflicting heavy damage. Hours after the Indian strikes on air bases, Pakistan's DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart for a ceasefire.
