Recently, reports indicate that India is striving to catch up with China in the realm of aircraft carriers, but faces numerous challenges such as budget constraints and shifting priorities.
Last month, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India will soon begin construction of its third aircraft carrier, INS Vishal, and stated that India does not intend to stop there, planning to build five to six aircraft carriers in total.
However, analysts point out that the Indian Navy currently has only two aircraft carriers, and plans to build more may take decades and be influenced by budget limitations and changes in strategic goals.
Interestingly, India's leading defense media agree with this primary argument.
India has long held the "ambitious goal" of building a strong naval force.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently mentioned that India is about to begin construction of its third aircraft carrier, the planned INS Vishal. He also noted that India's aim is not limited to three carriers but to build five to six.
Observers believe, however, that achieving this goal may take 25 to 30 years and will face obstacles such as budget constraints and changes in priorities.
Currently, the Indian Navy possesses two 45,000-ton aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
The former was purchased from Russia and commissioned in 2014; the latter was indigenously produced and entered service in 2022.
Just days before Singh made his statement, China's third aircraft carrier, Fujian, completed its first sea trial.
By 2035, China is expected to have six aircraft carriers, making it the second-largest blue-water navy in the world after the United States.
India has consistently aimed to match China's naval defense achievements, but this goal is undoubtedly ambitious and challenging.
China has made significant strides in coastal defense and continuously expanded its naval capabilities, further strengthening its ability to protect offshore assets.
Additionally, since 2008, China has deployed its navy and submarines in the Gulf of Aden to support anti-piracy operations, highlighting the rapid development of China's navy, which India keenly feels.
Indian observers note that the Indian Ocean holds significant strategic importance for India, as about 80% of its oil and 95% of its trade pass through this region.
To maintain influence in this crucial area, India needs at least three aircraft carriers to ensure flexible deployment and effective power projection.
Analyst Anushka Saxena from the Takshashila Institution points out that achieving the goal of five to six aircraft carriers may take 25 to 30 years, during which time fluctuations in the navy's budget and changing priorities could hinder the aircraft carrier construction plans.
Despite numerous challenges, India has its advantages in aircraft carrier construction.
For instance, India has successfully built the indigenous INS Vikrant, demonstrating its technical and industrial capabilities.
However, the high cost of construction remains a significant challenge.
For example, India spent $2.35 billion on acquiring INS Vikramaditya and $11 billion on constructing INS Vikrant, while INS Vishal is expected to cost between $6 billion and $8 billion.
In summary, the primary challenges India faces in achieving its ambitious aircraft carrier plans are the high costs and long construction timelines.
Nonetheless, driven by a desire to match China's naval defense strength, India feels an increasingly urgent need to accelerate its aircraft carrier construction.
In the future, India may need to find a balance between aircraft carriers and submarines to effectively match China's naval defense capabilities.
The Indian Ocean's strategic importance to India is undeniable.
As a crucial passage connecting the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean is not only a key route for global oil transport but also an important hub for international trade.
India must maintain a strong maritime presence in this region to ensure its energy security and trade flow.
Aircraft carriers, as vital tools for projecting naval power, can significantly enhance India's influence in the Indian Ocean.
Currently, India has a foundation of infrastructure and training in the Indian Ocean region, providing strong support for its navy.
Through bilateral and multilateral military exercises with countries such as the United States, Australia, and Japan, India has significantly improved its maritime combat and cooperation capabilities.
These exercises not only enhance the Indian Navy's combat skills but also elevate its international standing.
However, despite these advantages, India faces numerous challenges in aircraft carrier construction.
Firstly, the high costs of construction and maintenance.
Aircraft carriers require not only substantial initial investments but also significant maintenance and operational expenses.
Secondly, the construction period for aircraft carriers is lengthy, potentially taking over a decade from planning to commissioning.
Additionally, India needs to adapt to the evolving international landscape and technological advancements to ensure its carriers meet future operational requirements.
To address these challenges, India needs to balance its investment in aircraft carriers and submarines.
While aircraft carriers offer powerful power projection capabilities, they are costly and vulnerable.
In contrast, submarines have higher concealment and mobility, capable of performing missions in heavily defended enemy territories.
Therefore, India needs to invest balancedly in both aircraft carriers and submarines to ensure its navy has diversified combat capabilities.
In the long run, India should continue advancing its aircraft carrier construction plans while also focusing on enhancing the combat efficiency of existing carriers.
For example, by introducing advanced carrier-based aircraft and missile systems to improve the strike and defense capabilities of the carriers.
To achieve this goal, India needs detailed long-term planning to ensure the continuous progress of its aircraft carrier construction plans.
For instance, implementing a phased approach to gradually increase the number and tonnage of carriers.
While building new carriers, India should also focus on modernizing existing ones to enhance their combat capabilities and lifespan.
Moreover, Indian observers believe that India should learn from other countries' experiences, such as the U.S. aircraft carrier battle group operation model.
By forming comprehensive carrier battle groups, India can enhance the combat effectiveness and defense capabilities of its carriers, creating a stronger naval combat force.
Of course, this is still just a hopeful vision for Indian observers and is far from reality.
India faces many challenges in aircraft carrier construction but also possesses significant advantages and development potential.
Through reasonable strategic planning and balanced investment, India is expected to achieve its aircraft carrier construction goals in the future, enhancing its maritime influence in the Indian Ocean.
However, this process requires long-term effort and continuous investment, and India must find a balance between aircraft carriers and submarines and strengthen military cooperation with other countries to cope with the increasingly complex international situation.
In future developments, if India can maintain strategic focus and steadily advance its aircraft carrier construction plans, it indeed has the hope of ensuring its naval power can adapt to future challenges and opportunities.
It is worth noting that many readers often view India with biased perspectives.
While it is true that India has some severe issues, such as the caste system, the status of women, and unique definitions of hygiene, it is also undeniable that India has produced a considerable number of talents in recent years.
These talents have significantly influenced not only India but also the international community, particularly in Western countries.
Leveraging this talent pool, India's achievements have been remarkable. Although they may not compare to China's accomplishments, on a global scale, India's recent achievements (such as refurbishing aircraft carriers and lunar missions) are impressive.
Underestimating India might risk repeating the mistake some countries made when they underestimated China in the past.
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