India’s Twin Aircraft Carrier Strategy: Why Vikrant and Vikramaditya Are Just the Beginning

India's Twin Aircraft Carrier Strategy

INTRODUCTION: The Power Rising on the Waves

The Indian Ocean — a vast, restless expanse that carries the pulse of global trade and the rhythm of maritime power. Beneath its calm blue surface lies the stage for a silent competition — a contest of influence, deterrence, and presence.

In this evolving maritime theater, two steel giants define India’s growing naval power — INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. They are not merely ships; they are statements. Together, they symbolize India’s resolve to protect its sea lanes, secure its interests, and project influence deep into the Indo-Pacific.

Yet, as powerful as they are, these twin carriers are not the culmination of India’s ambitions — they are the beginning.

Behind their construction and deployment lies a long-term maritime vision — one that seeks to establish India as a global blue-water power, capable of operating seamlessly from the Strait of Hormuz to the South China Sea.This is the story of India’s Twin Aircraft Carrier Strategy — and how it marks a turning point in the balance of power across the Indian Ocean.

1. A LEGACY BUILT ON THE WAVES: THE ORIGIN OF INDIA’S CARRIER DREAM

India’s aircraft carrier journey began over six decades ago — in 1961 — with the commissioning of INS Vikrant (R11), a former British vessel. That single ship transformed the Indian Navy from a coastal defense force into a genuine blue-water fleet.

The 1971 Indo-Pak War proved its worth. During Operation Trident, INS Vikrant blockaded East Pakistan, striking enemy targets with relentless precision. It wasn’t just a tactical victory; it was a demonstration that control of the seas meant control of the conflict’s outcome.

For the next five decades, India remained the only Asian nation — apart from Japan in World War II — to continuously operate aircraft carriers.

The succession of INS Vikrant, INS Viraat, and eventually INS Vikramaditya ensured that India’s naval doctrine was anchored around carrier-based power projection.

But by the early 21st century, the maritime environment had changed. China’s navy was growing rapidly, new regional flashpoints emerged, and the Indian Ocean — once a quiet theater — became contested.

India realized that a single carrier was no longer enough.To truly safeguard both its western and eastern fronts, it needed two fully operational carrier battle groups (CBGs) — one based at Karwar, the other at Visakhapatnam.This realization birthed India’s twin aircraft carrier strategy.

2. THE WESTERN GUARDIAN: INS VIKRAMADITYA

Commissioned in 2013, INS Vikramaditya became the flagship of India’s Western Fleet. Originally the Soviet Admiral Gorshkov, it underwent a massive refit in Russia to become a modern STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) carrier.

Displacing over 44,500 tons, Vikramaditya is a floating fortress of airpower. Its air wing, built around MiG-29K fighters, provides long-range strike and interception capabilities across the Arabian Sea and beyond.

Operating from INS Kadamba Naval Base (Project Seabird) at Karwar, it forms the first pillar of India’s two-ocean defense doctrine — securing the western approaches, monitoring the Gulf of Aden, and ensuring energy security across vital sea lanes.

Yet, Vikramaditya’s story is not just one of strength but also of lessons learned.The delays, costs, and logistical challenges of relying on foreign systems underscored one truth — self-reliance is the key to maritime power.That lesson would define India’s next step — building its own carrier from the ground up.

3. THE EASTERN POWER: INS VIKRANT (IAC-1)

When INS Vikrant (IAC-1) was commissioned on September 2, 2022, it marked a new era in India’s naval history.Built indigenously at Cochin Shipyard Limited, Vikrant stands as a testament to Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defense.

Weighing over 43,000 tons and stretching 262 meters in length, INS Vikrant integrates modular construction, modern propulsion, and digital ship management systems. Its design can host 30 aircraft, including MiG-29Ks, Kamov-31 AEW helicopters, and Sea Kings, with future readiness for the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) currently under development.

Strategically, Vikrant is stationed with the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam, where its operational theater includes the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and the vital Malacca Strait.This positioning allows India to dominate trade routes that carry over 60% of global energy shipments — many bound for China.

Together, Vikrant and Vikramaditya ensure simultaneous sea control on both fronts.Even if one carrier undergoes maintenance, the other can remain operational — guaranteeing continuous deterrence and rapid response capability.

Vikrant, therefore, is not merely a ship — it is a strategic insurance policy for India’s maritime dominance.

4. WHY TWO CARRIERS MATTER — AND WHY THREE ARE NEEDED

Some critics argue that aircraft carriers are obsolete in the age of hypersonic missiles, drones, and submarines. But that assumption overlooks one critical fact — no other platform provides mobile airpower at sea.

For a nation like India — a peninsula surrounded by ocean — control of the seas is essential.Over 95% of India’s trade by volume and 80% by value travels via maritime routes. Protecting these lifelines demands constant aerial surveillance, strike capability, and command flexibility — roles only a carrier can fulfill.

A carrier battle group (CBG) acts as a mobile sovereign base — capable of deploying anywhere, anytime, independent of foreign soil or diplomatic clearance.

China understands this, which is why it’s rapidly expanding its own carrier fleet.

India’s response — the Twin Carrier Strategy — ensures that both its western and eastern seaboards are covered simultaneously.However, to maintain 24x7 readiness, naval planners insist on a three-carrier fleet:

• One deployed,

• One in maintenance, and

• One in training or reserve.

  
  

That third carrier — the INS Vishal — is the next big leap.

5. INS VISHAL: INDIA’S SUPER CARRIER OF THE FUTURE

If Vikramaditya represents the present and Vikrant the proof of concept, INS Vishal (IAC-2) represents the future.

Planned as a 65,000-ton supercarrier, Vishal will feature CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration — potentially with Electromagnetic Launch Systems (EMALS) similar to the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class carriers.

This would allow the Indian Navy to launch heavier aircraft such as AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) platforms and advanced fighters like TEDBF or even Rafale-M.It may also integrate hybrid or nuclear propulsion, enabling sustained blue-water operations without frequent refueling.

Vishal is expected to embody stealth shaping, sensor fusion, and AI-assisted combat management, making it one of the most advanced carriers in Asia.

Once operational, Vishal will complete India’s three-carrier doctrine — ensuring that the nation can maintain constant readiness across both seaboards while rotating carriers for upgrades or refits.

More importantly, Vishal will allow India to project power far beyond its immediate neighborhood, joining the ranks of the U.S., China, and the U.K. as true global maritime powers.

6. THE CARRIER BATTLE GROUP: INDIA’S FLOATING FORTRESS

A carrier by itself is powerful, but a Carrier Battle Group (CBG) is the real weapon.

Each Indian carrier operates at the center of a sophisticated ecosystem — destroyers, frigates, submarines, supply ships, and airborne early warning assets working in synergy.

A standard CBG includes:

• 1 aircraft carrier

• 2–3 destroyers (e.g., INS Kolkata-class)

• 2 frigates (e.g., Shivalik-class)

• 1 attack submarine

• 1 fleet tanker

• 
  

This layered defense structure ensures full-spectrum protection against air, surface, and underwater threats.

The integration of P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from shore bases further extends India’s surveillance reach deep into the Indian Ocean.

These CBGs don’t just deter — they diplomatically reassure. They deliver aid during disasters, evacuate civilians, and conduct multinational exercises, reinforcing India’s reputation as a responsible maritime power.

7. CHINA, THE INDO-PACIFIC, AND THE STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE

No discussion of India’s carrier strategy is complete without understanding the China factor.

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has launched three carriers — Liaoning,

Shandong, and Fujian — and aims for a fleet of six by 2035.Its expanding network of bases — Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), and Djibouti (Africa) — forms the so-called “String of Pearls”, encircling India’s maritime sphere.

To counter this, India’s twin carrier deployment ensures credible presence in both western and eastern theaters.With INS Vikramaditya guarding the Arabian Sea and INS Vikrant watching over the Bay of Bengal, India effectively controls the maritime chokepoints that define global trade — the Strait of Hormuz, Malacca Strait, and Bab el-Mandeb.

Furthermore, through strategic partnerships like the Quad (India, Japan, Australia, and the U.S.), India enhances its interoperability with leading naval powers.Exercises like Malabar integrate carrier operations, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime surveillance — building collective deterrence against aggressive expansionism.

In this grand maritime chessboard, India’s carriers serve as both sword and shield — asserting presence while ensuring stability.

8. THE FUTURE: CARRIERS, DRONES, AND DIGITAL DOMINANCE

The next chapter of India’s naval aviation will be defined by technology integration.

Projects like TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter) will replace the MiG-29Ks, while UCAVs such as the SWiFT and Ghatak will bring stealthy, unmanned strike capabilities to the deck.

Advances in AI-based decision support, quantum radar, and directed-energy defense systems will transform carriers into intelligent command centers capable of autonomous operations.

Future Indian carriers — Vishal and beyond — will likely deploy mixed air wings: manned fighters, UCAVs, and long-endurance drones for reconnaissance and strike roles.

This evolution ensures survivability and flexibility against modern threats like hypersonic missiles and swarm drones.

9. ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC DIMENSIONS OF CARRIER POWER

Aircraft carriers are not just instruments of war — they’re tools of diplomacy and economics.Whenever a crisis erupts — from the Gulf to the Pacific — the nation that can deploy a carrier instantly commands respect.

India’s carriers have participated in humanitarian missions, disaster relief operations, and joint exercises that boost regional confidence.Their mere presence in friendly ports — from Seychelles to Vietnam — symbolizes India’s role as a net security provider.

Economically, the indigenous carrier program drives thousands of domestic jobs, boosts shipbuilding expertise, and strengthens India’s defense-industrial ecosystem.Every ton of Vikrant represents not just steel, but sovereignty.

10. CHARTING THE COURSE AHEAD

The Indian Navy envisions a fleet of at least 170 ships and 500 aircraft by 2035 — with three operational aircraft carriers at its core.But the challenge lies in balancing modernization with budget realities and technological hurdles.

Despite these challenges, India’s resolve remains clear.The Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP) places carriers at the heart of India’s blue-water doctrine — as mobile bases that guarantee presence, projection, and deterrence.

With increasing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, India’s carrier fleet ensures that the nation’s voice resonates not just on land or air, but across the global commons of the sea.

CONCLUSION: A NATION AND ITS DESTINY ON THE SEA

From a borrowed British carrier in 1961 to the indigenously built INS Vikrant in 2022, India’s maritime story reflects persistence, ambition, and vision.

Today, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant sail not as relics of past glory, but as harbingers of a new maritime age — one where India stands tall as a defender of stability and freedom in the Indo-Pacific.

And on the horizon, INS Vishal awaits — a symbol of what comes next: a tri-carrier navy, technologically superior, globally engaged, and indigenously sustained.

In the decades ahead, the real battles for influence won’t be fought on land.They will be decided on the waves — by those who command the air above, the sea below, and the hearts of nations watching from afar.

And in that contest, India’s twin carriers are just the opening move — the first step toward a maritime destiny written in steel, strategy, and sovereignty.

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