A bizarre comment stirred speculation India may try to match China's carrier fleet

insider via msn ^ | June 1, 2024 | Michael Peck

[RomanSoldier19]

India may build a fleet of five to six new aircraft carriers, according to a comment from the country's defense minister that's been widely debated about whether that's a good strategy or if the offhand remark was even serious.

The Indian Navy operates two small aircraft carriers. Four more would give India a carrier force on par with China's growing one. And it would not be much smaller — at least in number of vessels — than the US Navy's 11 supercarriers.

[RomanSoldier19]

[billorites]

[TalBlack]

These days aren’t carriers more or less targets?

[maro]

Well, as India’s wealth and manufacturing prowess increase, at some point India will have carriers.

[central_va]

These days aren’t carriers more or less targets?

depends how they are deployed.

[PIF]

India may try to match China’s carrier fleet
—

Chinese Aircraft carriers are a joke. Let’s hope the Hindus do a far better job.

China’s Fujian Aircraft Carrier Is A Joke! A Smoky Imitation Show With a Repair Tug in Tow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSfn70_VxGQ

[bert]

China has no carrier fleet.

[PIF]

These days aren’t carriers more or less targets?
—

Not for Chinese subs. They they are poorly made, and as such have much difficulty avoiding sinking on their own. Deaths are hidden in a secret memorial. Continuing the boat building tradition started by Kublai Khan in 1274-1281 when he attempted to invade Japan using poorly constructed river and coastal vessels during typhoons.

Revealing the Truth About China’s Nuclear Subs: Outdated Equipment, Frequent Accidents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umF4XT2lnTg

[PIF]

China has no carrier fleet.
—

They have 3 carriers: the Liaoning, type 001; the Shandong (Type 002); both of these are ski-jump carriers. Now under going sea trials is the flat top, steam catapult Fujian (Type 003)

[bert]

You speak of ships said to be functioning air craft carriers

[PIF]

You speak of ships said to be functioning air craft carriers

—
They are aircraft carriers - how well they function is another matter.

[GreenLanternCorps]

The Red Chinese carriers could well be rust buckets, with poorly trained crews, but we don’t know that. You cannot assume that and need to treat them as a threat.

Underestimating your opponent never ends well.

[bert]

Just keep in mind we are but one of 27 navies patrolling the east and south China seas.

The Chinese carriers are not rust buckets but essentially dysfunctional at present.

There is good well known intelligence on the carriers

[Paal Gulli]

Having a bunch of boats big enough to land airplanes on doesn’t make it a “carrier fleet.” It’s been said that a night landing on an aircraft carrier is like turning out the living room lights, standing on the back of your sofa, taking a swan dive and trying to lick a postage stamp off the coffee table before you land in the floor. That’s not a skill set you’re going to master with a couple week’s practice. And if you don’t have the skills to operate it well, to fight with it and survive, at night and in foul weather, a carrier is little more than an artificial reef in search of its final resting place on the ocean floor.

Neither China nor India (nor even Russia) has ever gone to war with a blue water aircraft carrier. America makes it look easy because the US wrote the book. We’ve been refining all-weather 24/7 carrier ops for almost 80 years, so we’ve paid for that capability with American sweat and blood and decades of perseverance.

These other guys have got a lot of dues to pay (and pain to look forward to) before they have any hope of getting a positive return on the investment that building a flattop represents.

[RomanSoldier19]

[IndianChief]

And if you don’t have the skills to operate it well, to fight with it and survive, at night and in foul weather, a carrier is little more than an artificial reef in search of its final resting place on the ocean floor. Neither China nor India (nor even Russia) has ever gone to war with a blue water aircraft carrier.

India has been operating Carriers for 60+ years. incl night ops and in monsoon conditions.

India does not yet envisage carrier ops beyond the Indian Ocean. India just retired the Royal Navys flagship of the Falklands war, the INS Viraat, ex-HMS Hermes. Enough blue water capability there. The newer ships are more capable.