By Purushendra Singh, Senior Warrior India-US Fellow
Aircraft carriers have long been regarded as of paramount importance to the geopolitical environment, with growing economic interests and security concerns. Aircraft carriers assume a dal role by not just holding military significance, but also playing a pivotal role during natural disasters, ensuring safe sea lines of communication and projecting power to deter adversaries. The Indian Armed forces are moving in the direction of modernization, expanding its strategic reach and securing the maritime interests. Given the threat on all sides, which includes significant threats in the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. All part of the Indo-Pacific Region (IOR).
Hence, the need for having at least three Aircraft Carriers is imminent. Currently, India has one fully operational aircraft carrier, but aged another one is just a year-old commissioned. Third one on its way?
Need for Aircraft Carriers in the Indo-Pacific Construct
Though, India’s comprehensive maritime strategy, known as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) includes both security and development-related elements. It aspires to support regional connectivity, maritime security, and economic growth in the Indian Ocean region. Moreover, having India’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes its carriers key instruments in maintaining regional stability, safeguard its trade routes and cement India’s image as a responsible global player.
The region of Indo-Pacific from Africa to the Western Pacific is a region of opportunities, but it brings some challenges along with it. Some of these challenges are traditional but non-traditional challenges are more. Each stakeholder, whether from the region or outside the region faces these challenges. Some of them are common and some are individual. India is also one of such stakeholders, facing the following challenges:
China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean: By 2027, China is likely to operate at least one air craft carrier in the Indian Ocean Region. If India wants to remain as the central player in the Indian Ocean which is a strategically and economically significant ground for India, it has to exemplify the countries capability to engineer and operate complex platforms as nuclear-propelled aircraft carriers. Over the decades China is trying to place its foot in the Indian Ocean. Under its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and String of Pearls strategy, China is focusing on the coastal neighbours of India. China’s ports in countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which are the immediate neighbourhood of India, are a matter of concern for India.
Another significant need to have aircraft carriers is the role they play in the times of natural disasters. For instance, in 2004 Tsunami – the Indian Navy’s carrier served as floating airfields offering agility required to swiftly deliver relief and assistance to affected and vulnerable regions of IOR.
China’s growing influence in the Arabian Sea: To overcome the issue of the “Malacca Dilemma”, China becomes very assertive to establish its strong presence in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Along with safeguarding the Andaman & Nicobar Islands which is home to A&N Command (ANC), the only tri-service theater command of India, there is pertinent need to cancel out China’s “string of pearls strategy” by effectively cutting Coco Islands leased by China from Myanmar and Strait of Malacca.
Challenges in the South China Sea: India has been engaged in the South China Sea dispute since 1995. There has been various deployment and different activities conducted by India since then. These activities involve the unilateral appearance of the Indian Navy in the South China Sea, bilateral exercises, friendly port calls, and transitions through the surrounding water bodies. However, India is still very far off from the center of South-China Sea where the Shandong and Liaoning, two of the PLA Navy’s operational aircraft carriers train and carry out missions regularly. As recently witnessed and reported, Chinese fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were seen practicing taking off from and landing on these aircraft carriers. Additionally, the biggest-ever exercise carried by China having aircraft carrier with frigates, destroyers etc. was held recently in waters between Taiwan, the Philippines and the US Pacific territory of Guam. As a leading global and regional naval power, India has stood by the principle of free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific and stand by Taiwan’s sovereignty. For ensuring the safety, security and prosperity of this region, she would look at stationing an aircraft carrier in this region in times to come. The proposed INS Vishal, touted to be a nuclear-powered carrier with greater endurance and longer range could play a major role in maintaining the balance of power in this region.
China’s Maritime Supremacy
People’s Liberation Army which has the world’s largest navy, having over 350 warships and submarines. Moreover, it is projected to further expand to over 550 by 2027-2030. It’s important to note that the incumbent Chinese Premiere Xi Jinping’s current spell as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party would expire in 2027 and by then and by all means – his goal is to make the people’s liberation Army a “world-class military” by the middle of the century.
Comparing Chinese current and future status with India, India’s navy has 132 warships with 143 aircraft and 130 helicopters as of now. The aim is to have a minimum of 175 warships by 2035. However, this compared to Chinese maritime vision and target is very miniscule. Furthermore, by 2030, China is likely to operate an air craft carrier in the Indian Ocean Region. This further raise the need for India to expand even further with the upcoming induction of more advanced vessels.
With the need of, ‘saving the sovereignty and integrity’, the modus operandi for future is to modernize and deter the offensive forces. Although, the road to modernization in the India armed forces has begun. But the pace has to be quickened or rather increased by multiple times only if has to stand a chance to look into the eyes of the mammoth of naval power i.e., PLA’s Navy.
India’s Plan of Modernizing Naval Forces and Need for Aircraft Carriers
India has understood its growing strategic maritime needs, and is addressing the need to grow and modernize its naval requirements. However, to put things in perspective, China builds around 14 warships a year, whereas India manages only about four. The focus is now on indigenous production and harnessing the domesic industrial base. Enhancing self-reliance and technological prowess, INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier exemplifies the countries role as a prominent regional player and aspiring global power.
Indian defence Minister launched Indian Navy’s updated Indigenisation Roadmap ‘Swavlamban 2.0’. Additionally, the focus is on producing futuristic infantry combat vehicles, Remotely Piloted Airborne Vehicles (RPAVs), shipborne unmanned aerial system, medium upgrade low endurance class tactical drone, electro optic fire control system and a CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-off But Arrested Recovery) inducted Aircraft Carrier for naval platforms among others.
Stationing at Strategic Chokepoints
The Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra are separated by a thin body of water known as the Strait of Malacca, also spelt as the Strait of Malaka. This is one of the most crucial maritime channels in the world, it links the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. A sizable amount of the world’s maritime
traffic travels through the Strait of Malacca, a strategically important chokepoint. Shipping oil, natural gas, and other products between the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region depends on this route. The strait ranges in width from around 1.7 to 40 miles (2.7 to 64 kilometers) and is about 550 miles (885 km) long. The Strait of Malacca has also been a focal point for maritime security issues because of its geopolitical importance and huge traffic volume.
There have been reports of piracy and armed robberies against ships in the area, which has prompted regional nations and international organizations to increase maritime security and battle these dangers. The Strait of Malacca’s surrounding nations, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, are essential to managing maritime activity in the area and maintaining safe navigation. To ensure security and promote efficient maritime trade through the strait, they have put into place procedures like coordinated patrols, information exchange, and the creation of joint command centers. Stationing of aircraft carrier here holds profound geostrategic implications with the ability to exert influence, secure sea lanes, and respond effectively to contingencies.
Another strategic chokepoint is Taiwan Strait and the Bashi Channel. Here, the Shandong which entered into operation in 2019, is China’s first domestically developed aircraft carrier. Recently, the Taiwan’s defense ministry has spotted the vessel in the western pacific. For India, the Taiwan Strait is an important juncture for its trade and it also plays a part of the larger Indo-Pacific construct.
India’s objective of using its maritime potential, guaranteeing maritime security, and fostering inclusive and sustainable development along its coastline is aligned with the production of aircraft carriers. Dr. Ajay Kumar, former Indian defense secretary, emphasized the development and maturity of the Indian shipbuilding sector by pointing to the nation’s significant shipyards and the creation of the indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant. These vessels would play increasingly important role as regional dynamics evolve and newer technologies such as involvement of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) increase in hybrid warfare.
Analyzing Chinese Aircraft Carriers & Maritime Strategy
The growing maritime threat from China cannot be ignored as PLAN is investing more in existing overseas bases surrounding India like Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, Karachi and Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka and pumping in investments for a potential port in Ream, Cambodia to overcome the current logistical challenge in the IOR and the larger Indo-Pacific region.
The Lianoning and Shandong, the two carriers which are in service, have conducted several training missions in the Western Pacific and most recently were spotted at the Bashi Channel. This Channel separates Philippines and Taiwan. These exercises or missions are accompanied by various Chinese frigates, destroyers and tankers have been causing alarm for the countries of this region.
Latest in the strategy, is unveiling of Fujian, China’s newest aircraft carrier. This is the first domestically designed which is ready to sail. Fujians’ mission would be to offset the air superiority of the US and its allies in the Western Pacific region and East Asia. This carrier is built to launch fighter jets with an electromagnetic catapult, a system on par with the US’s most advanced aircraft carrier – USS Gerald R Ford. In comparison, Fujian which operates on conventionally powered fuel will be slower and have lesser range compared to nuclear propulsions systems of the USS Gerald R Ford.
Unlike the earlier Chines carriers, the Fujian can carry a complete fleet of aircraft, including patrol aircraft and early warning and control planes. Additionally, it has advanced launch system, which is expected to help the PLAN to have many more sorties compared to the previous two. Here, the three electromagnetic aircraft catapults will not only improve range but payloads and scale of aircraft operations compared with previous carriers equipped with ski ramps.
India’s Preparedness and Way forward
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), which is the hub and progenitor of shipbuilding in India has manufactured first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Commissioned in September, 2022 and powered by four general electric engines is India’s second aircraft carrier after INS Vikramaditya which entered into service in 2013. The induction of INS Vikramaditya which is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier of the Soviet Navy and later Russian Navy from 1987 to 1996 uses the aircraft-operation mode known as Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configuration.
INS Vikrant which has some modifications and upgrades, but follow the same design as the first carrier. Also, this vessel uses STOBAR configuration and equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft. As a way forward, one school of thinkers say that talks are on for finalizing on a repeat-order a Vikrant-sized carrier (category of 45,000 tonnes) but with some modifications. This may become a replacement for the INS Vikramaditya. Given the past experience, a repeat order can take upto 6-8 years and by then would replace the aged INS Vikramaditya.
The Indian Navy has long based for its force structure around three carriers, one each for the three maritime openings – Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. CSL is equipped having envisaged an aircraft carrier with a displacement of 65,000 tonnes (Fujian is 70,000 tonnes) and a CATOBAR system for launching aircraft as well as full-electric propulsion. This is in planning stages, with a name already being given – INS Vishal.
In the recent aftermath of Naval upgradation, and to support a full-fledged fleet of fighter jets such as MiG-29K, indigenous future variants of Tejas-Mk2 and Chetak class helicopters, the need is for a larger nuclear-propulsion aircraft carrier having a flat-top base.
The decision to have a USS-Gerald M. Ford-type aircraft carrier would mean much more money, political will and technological prowess. In the corridors of Department of Military Affairs and other higher institutions, the planning and inception round of talks are taking place to have an indigenous nuclear-powered propulsion aircraft carrier with the capability of 100,000 tonnes with CATOBAR system for launching aircraft. As Hindustan Aeronautics Limited recently signing an MoU with US firm General Electrics Aviation to manufacture GE’s F414 INS6 fighter jet engines for 5th generation indigenous fighters. Furthermore, Indian Airforce procuring 36 Multirole Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France would need a larger carrier with at least three aircraft elevators connect hangar deck and flight deck.
From the significant step of producing indigenous carrier which marks a milestone in India’s defense ambitions, now, the need is to retain the role of playing a central player in the larger Indo-Pacific region and reclaiming its golden maritime prowess. With the advent of newer technologies and the strategic acumen of the Indian Armed forces, and with assistance from like-minded countries is poised to harness the potential of aircraft carriers to safeguard its interests, shape regional stability and secure a safe global environment.
Purushendra Singh is a Senior Warrior US-India Fellow. Singh works for CUTS International, Washington DC Center, a global think and action tank
(Views of the authors are personal)
