Oldest serving aircraft carrier INS Viraat to be decommissioned today

NEW DELHI: The world's olderst aircraft carrier in active service, INS Viraat, will be decommissioned on Monday after serving the Indian Navy for nearly 30 years.

INS Viraat's retirement will not only end a glorious chapter in the Indian Navy's history but will also create a vacuum as the sea hawks will be short of two aircraft carriers now. Earlier, INS Vikrant was decommissioned in 1997.


The decommissioning ceremony will be attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries.

The grand event will see the lowering and wrap-up of the naval flag installed on the warship at sunset, marking an end to a long sea odyssey lasting 55 years.

INS Viraat was commissioned in Indian Navy in 1987, before that the historic ship served Royal British Navy for 27 long years.

It was built in 1943, during the Second World War. The carrier has provided utmost protection to the country during many tense situations.

The decision on the warship's future has not been taken yet.

But the warship would be possibly converted into a museum, hotel or will be preserved as a relic of maritime history.