India's Aircraft Carriers: A Detailed Overview

Current Aircraft Carrier Fleet

India currently operates two aircraft carriers:

• INS Vikramaditya: A modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier acquired in July and commissioned in September 2022.
• INS Vikrant: India's first domestically built aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2023.

Additional Naval Assets

Besides aircraft carriers, the Indian Navy also possesses:

• 1 amphibious transport dock
• 4 tank landing ships
• 12 destroyers
• 12 frigates

INS Vikramaditya: The Flagship

INS Vikramaditya, named after King Vikramaditya, is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier that serves as the flagship of the Indian Navy. It was originally built for the Soviet Union in the 1980s and acquired by India in 2004. The carrier has undergone extensive modernization and now features a ski-jump ramp for launching aircraft.

INS Vikrant: India's Domestic Pride

INS Vikrant, pronounced as 'Vikraanta', is India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier. It was launched in 2013 and commissioned in 2023. The carrier is equipped with a variety of sensors and weapons systems, including Barak 8 air defense missiles and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

India's Future Aircraft Carrier

India is currently constructing a new aircraft carrier, designated as IAC-2. The carrier is expected to be larger and more powerful than INS Vikrant and is scheduled to be commissioned in the early 2030s.

Conclusion

India's aircraft carriers play a crucial role in safeguarding its maritime interests and projecting power in the Indian Ocean region. With the acquisition of INS Vikramaditya and the construction of INS Vikrant, India has significantly bolstered its naval capabilities. The upcoming IAC-2 will further enhance India's maritime dominance in the years to come.