Article Posted on : - Dec 04, 2014

Aircraft carrier INS Viraat. An Indian Navy photo

MUMBAI (PTI): The Indian Navy has appointed a technical board (TB) to assess how long the aircraft carrier INS Viraat can serve the force.

"Technical board has been formed to check if Viraat can serve," Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commander in Chief of the Western Naval Command, told reporters on the eve of Navy Day.

When asked if Viraat will go together with country's largest aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant (presently under-construction at the Cochin Shipyard), Chopra said, "Viraat is an old ship and we have operated her for past 27 years."

The ship may get decommissioned by 2018, he said.

India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is currently being scrapped at a ship-breaking yard in Mumbai.

Boards have also been appointed to determine the service life of the three Godavari class frigates.

"Godavari class ship will be the first to be decommissioned now," he added.

These warships, which include INS Godavari, INS Ganga and INS Gomati, were commissioned in the 1980s.