Posted on 09/02/2022 10:29:01 AM PDT by DFG
India commissioned its first home-built aircraft carrier Friday as it seeks to counter regional rival China's much larger and growing fleet, and expand its own indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
The INS Vikrant, whose name is a Sanskrit word for “powerful" or "courageous," is India's second operational aircraft carrier, joining the Soviet-era INS Vikramaditya that it purchased from Russia in 2004 to defend the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.
The new 262-meter (860-foot) carrier, designed by the Indian navy and built at the Cochin shipyard in southern India, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the country's commemoration of 75 years of independence from British rule.
More than just adding to the country's naval capabilities, Modi stressed the importance of India now being only one of a handful of nations with an indigenous carrier program.
"It’s a historic day and landmark achievement," Modi said. “It’s an example of the government’s thrust to make India’s defense sector self-reliant.”
The carrier is the largest warship to be built in the country, and can carry a crew of around 1,600 and operate a fleet of 30 aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters, the navy said.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Let’s see. India supported the Soviets during the Cold War over our support of Pakistan. Therefore we should return the favor and support the Chicoms.
75% of this ship was manufactered in India.
🤨
Just like voting democrats everywhere, it is all about the free stuff.
If Taiwan can get closer to India in time..
That may be the ONLY thing that stops China from moving on Taiwan.
An aircraft carrier, in itself, is extremely vulnerable. The question is, does India have the necessary flotilla - ships, subs, etc. - to support the carrier? Probably not.
Ski-jump design limits its usefulness.
Looks like 1 catapult on the angle deck. Still, you’re right. It looks like they are deploying STOVL type aircraft.
Yes, aircraft carriers are sitting ducks without a protective armada around them. The key to protecting U.S. carriers is that nobody gets close to one that not a friendly. Potential threads are identified and tracked hundreds of miles away.
Just take off from the other end!..................... 😁
This must be to project power in the southern Indian ocean or east African coast. India can already interdict Chinese shipping to and from the Persian Gulf via land forces alone.
You can tell that the Russians had no input regarding the carrier, because it actually floats.
30 aircraft. Deducting for helicopters that would mean a squadron of attack jets plus a few spares.
Doesn’t belch large clouds of unburnt hydrocarbons to obstruct flight operations, either.
[Currently undergoing sea trials.
Ski-jump design limits its usefulness.]
Gotta wonder if that’s real or vaporware. The Indians, overreaching as usual, want EMALS on the cheap from Uncle Sugar *and* technology transfer along with production in India.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Aircraft_Launch_System#India
I bet the chow is extra spicy! And don’t ask for a hamburger (rim shot)
The CCP lies, lies, lies and then everyone believes their fariry tales.
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