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Strategic Vanguard is an independent platform dedicated to the study of geopolitics, maritime strategy, air power, defense affairs, and global security from an Indian strategic perspective.
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
Deep Dives in Geopolitics, military power, and global strategy from an Indian Perspective
Power is not exercised. It is understood


India’s Twin Aircraft Carrier Strategy: Why Vikrant and Vikramaditya Are Just the Beginning
India’s twin aircraft carriers — Vikrant and Vikramaditya — mark a historic evolution in the Indian Navy’s doctrine. But the story doesn’t end here. This is only the beginning of India’s journey toward true blue-water dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

Manoj Ambat
Nov 9, 20257 min read


🚢 The Future of Naval Power: Aircraft Carriers vs. Submarines – India’s Strategic Dilemma
Aircraft carriers dominate headlines as floating cities of power, but submarines dominate strategy as silent guardians of deterrence. The real question is not carriers versus submarines, but how nations blend both into a doctrine fit for the 21st century.

Manoj Ambat
Oct 13, 20256 min read


Beyond Malabar: The Deep Naval Game Between India and the UK
While Malabar dominates headlines, India’s quieter carrier group drills with the United Kingdom reveal a deeper story. These exercises go beyond symbolism — they strengthen interoperability, enhance carrier operations, and anchor India’s true Indo-Pacific strategy.

Manoj Ambat
Oct 12, 20253 min read


India’s Strategic Edge in the Arabian Sea: Why Naval Power Matters
The Arabian Sea is no longer just a trade highway—it is a theater of strategic competition. For India, dominance in this region means securing maritime trade, countering China’s naval expansion, and shaping the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific.

Manoj Ambat
Oct 2, 20255 min read


India’s Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Dream: A 15-Year Vision
India's Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Aircraft carriers are more than warships—they are symbols of national power and ambition. For India, a maritime nation dependent on sea trade routes, aircraft carriers have always played a decisive role. From INS Vikrant’s daring blockade of Pakistan in 1971, to the indigenous INS Vikrant (IAC-1) commissioned in 2022, India’s carrier journey reflects both history and aspiration. Today, the Indian Navy is looking toward its boldest project yet:

Manoj Ambat
Sep 10, 20252 min read


The Future of India’s Aircraft Carrier Strategy: Lessons from INS Vikrant and China’s Fujian
INS Vikrant at INS Kadamba (Credits- Indian Navy) Aircraft carriers have long been considered the crown jewels of naval power projection. For India and China, two rising Asian powers, carriers are more than just floating airbases – they are symbols of strategic reach, deterrence, and global ambitions. As the Indo-Pacific emerges as the primary theater of 21st-century geopolitics, the debate around the future of aircraft carriers has sharpened. India commissioned its first ind

Manoj Ambat
Sep 5, 20255 min read


INS Viraat – Bidding Adieu to the Grand Old Lady of the Indian Navy ( From Vanguard Archive)
INS Viraat (Credits- Indian Navy) INS Viraat holds a special place in the maritime history of India. She joined the Indian fleet in 1987, after serving the Royal Navy as HMS Hermes, and went on to serve the Indian Navy for nearly three decades as its flagship and floating airbase. What made Viraat remarkable was her longevity. She was the oldest serving aircraft carrier in the world, with a career that spanned more than half a century—from the Falklands War (1982) to her fina

Manoj Ambat
Aug 29, 20252 min read
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