INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier (IAC)

WolfPack86

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INDIAN NAVY PUTS ON HOLD PLANS TO BUILD IAC-2, BUT IS CONSIDERING REPEAT ORDER OF INS VIKRANT
New Delhi:
The Indian Navy has put on hold its plans to design and build a larger indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), known as IAC-2, and is looking at the possibility of a repeat order of the recently commissioned INS Vikrant.

This means that while the Navy wants a third aircraft carrier, it is now looking at ordering another 42,800-ton displacement Vikrant-class ship unlike the earlier plans to build a larger carrier.

Addressing the annual press conference on the eve of Navy Day, Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar said that the Navy is still working on what kind of size the IAC-2 should have and its capabilities. “Right now, the plans have been put on hold because we just commissioned Vikrant,” he said.

Admiral Kumar said given that the Vikrant’s construction process has led to a lot of expertise and creation of a large number of medium enterprises in the ship building process, “we are contemplating whether we should look at a repeat order of IAC-1”.

He said that this was still in discussion stage and the Navy has not made up its mind yet and has also not approached the government for the same.

The government is of the opinion that the Navy should focus on building more submarines, rather than go in for a third aircraft carrier.

Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) late Gen Bipin Rawat had openly said that an aircraft carrier was a costly liability and a sitting duck for modern long range anti-ship missiles.

On the other hand, the Indian Navy believes that carriers are important and points out that the Chinese are also investing in carriers. However, other sources said that China first focussed on submarines and was now focusing on carriers as part of its global ambitions to project power overseas and challenge the US.

Preparing A Draft Cabinet Note For Indigenous Naval Fighters’

Talking about the ongoing fighter acquisition programme, the Navy said that the force was analysing the report submitted following the “trials” of the Rafale-M and the F/A-18 Super Hornets.

He said that the future of Indian naval aviation was the indigenous Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), whose prototype is expected by 2026-27 and production to start somewhere around 2032.

“We are preparing a draft Cabinet note for the TEDBF,” he said, adding that the existing naval fighter MiG-29K was in limited numbers and Russian spare supplies were “also not very forthcoming”.

Predator Drones On Track, Number Being Relooked

On the long-pending issue of acquisition of 30 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones from the US, Admiral Kumar said it was on track. A call was being taken whether to stick to the number 30 or go in for rationalisation, he added.

He also said that the two leased Sea Guardian drones have performed extremely well and the Navy has benefitted.

The navy chief said he was confident that when India will induct these HALE drones, all the three Services will greatly benefit.

The Naval force, which currently did not have any single minesweepers, was having a rethink on the whole process, said Admiral Kumar, adding that rather than building new minesweepers, the Navy was looking at the possibility of having a mothership that can carry out missions using autonomous technology. The Navy would become self-dependent by 2047, he added.
 

Eagle Eye

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without HAWK EYE[battle space management for fighters] like aircraft in carrier is just another large destroyer...
 

FactsPlease

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without HAWK EYE[battle space management for fighters] like aircraft in carrier is just another large destroyer...
And that will be another tech field we had NOT been able to think and plan... ...
Its one even France has to count on USA (E2), despite all claimed (boasting) of French achievement.
And also a reminder to those who think Rafale can rid us from sanction threat of US.
Any navy planner with real foresight should start preparing for this (certain solution), like what PLAN is trying so hard now...
 

NutCracker

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And that will be another tech field we had NOT been able to think and plan... ...
Its one even France has to count on USA (E2), despite all claimed (boasting) of French achievement.
And also a reminder to those who think Rafale can rid us from sanction threat of US.
Any navy planner with real foresight should start preparing for this (certain solution), like what PLAN is trying so hard now...
You can't build everything with just 3.4T economy having 1.5M strong army and multi million retirees hogging the budget.
 

FactsPlease

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You can't build everything with just 3.4T economy having 1.5M strong army and multi million retirees hogging the budget.
You could be right. That's why I said "preparing" for certain solution, NOT starting designing & building something. Though, cold fact is: other than E2c/d, anyone think of any alternatives?
 

johnj

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You could be right. That's why I said "preparing" for certain solution, NOT starting designing & building something. Though, cold fact is: other than E2c/d, anyone think of any alternatives?
AEW Helios or V22 AEW .
 

NutCracker

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My bad not been specific. When I mentioned sanction threat from USA, I meant to say that, for fixed wing AEW, NO alternative other than USA source.
No. Why so much worried about sanctions ??

Did we think about it while buying Poseidon, Globmaster , superhercules , Chinook, Apache, Vikrant's GE turbines, GE engines for LCA , MK2 , AMCA ??
 

Blademaster

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No. Why so much worried about sanctions ??

Did we think about it while buying Poseidon, Globmaster , superhercules , Chinook, Apache, Vikrant's GE turbines, GE engines for LCA , MK2 , AMCA ??
we made sure that they were sanctioned proof meaning that we have spares on standby so those weapons don’t get stranded.
 

NutCracker

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we made sure that they were sanctioned proof meaning that we have spares on standby so those weapons don’t get stranded.
True.. i am not the one worried about US sanctions.

We can buy long term spares similarly for osprey if our next carrier is Stobar, or Hawkeye e-2 if next is Catobar. If we dont FK up the lift size
 

binayak95

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No. Why so much worried about sanctions ??

Did we think about it while buying Poseidon, Globmaster , superhercules , Chinook, Apache, Vikrant's GE turbines, GE engines for LCA , MK2 , AMCA ??
Add the LM2500 GTs for P17s, P17As, the new M777 guns, the SIG 716Is, 155mm Excalibur ammunition, the tonnes and tonnes of supplies airlifted to India during and post Galwan.
US Fear mongering is so moronic
 

Corvus Splendens

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India has already been given a CAATSA waiver for the S-400 units purchased thus far. And to reciprocate, babus cancelled further purchases of this system. We are confident of maintaining a good relationship with USA, hence outside of budgetary considerations and focus on indigenization, no real obstacle or fear associated with US weapons.
 

karn

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Assuming a second Vikrant will be ordered . Do you guys think that certain things will be redesigned..
Like elevator and aviation complex ?
 

johnj

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Tedbf production starts only after 2032, means vikrant 2 achieve foc only after 2035, & commission in 2032 if CSL starts works in 2024 and deal sign in 2023. IN can consider aew support from land basics to cbg.
May be GoI considering vikrant iac2 in 2023 & rafale m in 2024.
 

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