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India may need third aircraft carrier as China expands fleet
India may require a third aircraft carrier as China expands its fleet, according to a capability development document released by the armed forces last year. The Indian Navy currently operates two carriers:…
India may require a third aircraft carrier as China expands its fleet, according to a capability development document released by the armed forces last year. The Indian Navy currently operates two carriers: the indigenous INS Vikrant and the refurbished INS Vikramaditya. With only two carriers, the Navy cannot maintain the optimal three-ship rotation for deployment, training, and maintenance. The document outlines a 15-year timeline, coinciding with the planned retirement of INS Vikramaditya.
The Navy is reportedly seeking a larger 65,000-tonne class carrier, which would be the largest vessel ever operated by India. Such a ship could carry 50-60 aircraft, compared to 36 on current carriers. The Navy is also procuring Rafale-M fighter jets to replace and supplement its 40 MiG-29Ks. China currently has three aircraft carriers in service and plans to induct six more, potentially reaching nine carriers, just two short of the US Navy's fleet.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The 15-year timeline aligns with the end of INS Vikramaditya's operational life, but building a 65,000-tonne carrier is a decade-long project. The real constraint is not just shipbuilding capacity but also the cost: a carrier of this size could cost over Rs 50,000 crore, excluding aircraft and escort vessels. India's strategic focus is the Indian Ocean, where Chinese naval presence is growing through port access in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Maldives. A third carrier would allow India to maintain a continuous deployment in the eastern Indian Ocean or the Andaman Sea while keeping one carrier in the Arabian Sea. Watch for the Defence Acquisition Council's next meeting, which may approve the initial design phase.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
