The Indian Navy has recently presented an ambitious proposal to the government. They are seeking approval to build a second aircraft carrier, utilizing the expertise of the renowned Cochin Shipyard Limited.
This endeavor is a pivotal step towards enhancing the country's self-reliance in the defence sector.
"The Defence Ministry has received a proposal for the construction and acquisition of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-2, which would be the second indigenous aircraft carrier'', Defence officials told the Indian news agency.
Once approved by the government, the IAC-2 project will create numerous direct job opportunities for thousands of individuals and also generate countless indirect employment opportunities through the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kerala.
''The ministry would shortly discuss the proposal as one of the biggest additions under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) programme in the Defence sector'', they said.
To guarantee the presence of a carrier on each coast during repairs, the Indian Navy is striving for the acquisition of three aircraft carriers. Officials have confirmed that the Indian Navy's three aircraft carriers will grant them the capability to match any maritime force in the Indo-Pacific region.
Furthermore, the Indian Navy is set to acquire a fleet of indigenous Twin Engine Deck L-based Fighter aircraft, which are expected to be produced in large numbers for deployment across the three carriers. Additionally, the Navy has plans to procure 26 new Rafale fighter aircraft specifically for the INS Vikrant.
Admiral R. Hari Kumar recently announced that the state-of-the-art aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, will have its headquarters near the bustling port city of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The launch of INS-Vikrant was a historic occasion for India, and current efforts are focused on getting it (INS-Vikrant) completely operational by November 2023.
With the successful execution of the combat aircraft (Navy) and MiG-29K landing on INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea, the Navy reached a key milestone in the operationalisation of the indigenous aircraft carrier.
The Navy has been attempting to maintain a three-carrier force that can deploy one carrier to each coast simultaneously while the others arr undergoing maintenance.