The chief of India's blue water force, Admiral R Hari Kumar, has explained why the country needs a third aircraft carrier to smoothly carry out its duties in the Indian Ocean and beyond.
"The Navy is seized of the security implications of the changing maritime/naval environment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and maintains a constant and close watch on all developments, fine-tune our concept of operations, and formulate our capability perspective plans to cater to the developing threat," Kumar stated in an exchange with a New Delhi-based defence publication.
"The Carrier Battle Groups (CBGs) are undoubtedly the source of power projection and provide freedom of maneuver in the vast area of operations or interest. The three carriers would arm the Bharatiya Nausena (Indian Navy) with the required teeth to deter our potential adversaries from many misadventures and establish credible deterrence in our area of operations," he added.
In recent weeks, the Indian Navy has stepped up its efforts to convince the Narendra Modi-led government to give a go-ahead for what would be the second locally-manufactured aircraft carrier.
Last year, India joined a select band of countries capable of producing aircraft carriers domestically.
Its first locally developed aircraft carrier, Vikrant, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in September 2022.