On 25 October 1944 the Imperial Japanese Navy's Zuikaku was sunk; on 4 March 1961, INS Vikrant became Asia's next aircraft carrier

According to this programme, the naming and commissioning of INS Vikrant began at 11:10am on Saturday, 4th March 1961, and ended with a flypast of 300 Squadron's Seahawks followed by coffee in 'C' Hanger.

Fourteen years after independence the Indian Navy was ready to operate one of the most demanding of all ships: an aircraft carrier. HMS Hercules, a British Majestic class carrier, would become INS Vikrant. And it wasn't just for show, because ten years later INS Vikrant and her aircraft went into action in the Bay Of Bengal, proving the effectiveness of the Indian Navy's air power. Henceforth the Indian Navy would always have aircraft carriers in its fleets – and even another Vikrant that would sail on into the future.