After an excruciating 10 years of construction, the first indigenously built and designed Indian carrier has finally begun its sea trials with its air wing. While the sea trials have started earlier in the year since February, the carrier has only now started flight trials along with its current air wing, most notable being 4 Dassault Rafale M. The INS Vikrant is a IAC-1 (Indigenous Aircraft Carrier - 1), with Vikrant being translated to "courageous". The motto of the ship is Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah, which is taken from Rigveda 1.8.3 and can be translated as "I defeat those who fight against me".

Alongside the Rafale M is the Mikoyan MiG-29K, Ka-31 (Main AEW asset) an soon the MerlinHM2 to replace the Westland Sea King as the carrier's main ASW shield. The sea trials are set to complete by late 2022 - early 2023, where operational combat capability will be declared for the INS Vikrant.

For now, the carrier spends most of its time in the South Indian, sometimes alongside its sister the INS Vikramaditya taking photoshoots of the 2 Indian carriers, boosting enlistment rate back home.