India’s New Aircraft Carrier is Now ‘Fully Operational’

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Key Points: India’s naval capabilities are surging with the INS Vikrant, its domestically-built aircraft carrier, now fully operational.

-Commissioned in 2022, the 44,000-ton flagship operates under the Western Fleet and features state-of-the-art automation, supporting an air wing of 30 aircraft, including the MiG-29K.

-The Indian Navy is also finalizing a deal for the French-made Rafale M fighters, complementing its existing Rafale fleet and reducing maintenance costs.

-Meanwhile, the Soviet-made INS Vikramaditya will undergo a significant refit to address its persistent issues.

-These developments are critical as India strengthens its navy to counterbalance China’s expanding maritime presence.

India’s INS Vikrant Fully Operational: A New Era in Naval Power

The Indian Navy’s domestically-built flagship aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, is now fully operational, while India’s Soviet-made flattop INS Vikramaditya will soon undergo a refit that will modernize the warship considerably as part of New Delhi’s efforts to keep pace with Beijing’s naval expansion.

“With the completion of various trials and the ship’s fleet integration, INS Vikrant is now fully operational and is operating under the Western Fleet,” Vice Admiral V. Srinivas told reporters this week.

The 44,000-ton INS Vikrant, which was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, remains the largest military vessel built in the subcontinent.

It was the first carrier to be designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and was built at the Cochin Shipyard.

According to the Indian-based The Week , INS Vikrant boasts state-of-the-art automation features and houses around 2,200 compartments, designed to accommodate a crew of about 1,600, including women officers and sailors,” and could be the just first of a planned flotilla of aircraft carriers.

In early 2024, the Indian Navy carried out joint carrier training with both of its flattops.

Coming Soon Rafale Marine Fighters

Currently, India’s flagship carrier can operate with an air wing of 30 aircraft, including the Russian-made Mikoyan MiG-29K (NATO reporting name Fulcrum-D), a 4+ generation all-weather carrier-based multiple fighter – but New Delhi may be close to finalizing a deal to purchase the French-made Dassault Rafale M, the carrier-based variant of the omnirole 4.5 generation Rafale.

“Rafale Marine is at an advanced stage of negotiations and is only one level short of taking it to the Cabinet Committee on Security,” Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi said during the annual Indian Navy Day press conference on Monday.

The Indian Air Force already operates around three dozen Rafale B and C models, and adopting the Rafale M – which shares more than 80% of the features and components – would help reduce training, maintenance, and even repair costs.

The deal could be closed earlier next year, Aerotime reported.

The Indian Navy has adopted the American-made MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, which could also replace its aging Kamov Ka-31 helicopters. In addition, INS Vikrant can operate with domestically-produced Advanced Light Helicopters and Light Combat Aircraft.

Refit for INS Vikramaditya

Commissioned in 2013, but built in Russia, INS Vikramaditya has been plagued by a series of problems. The carrier was originally constructed as Baku and served briefly with the Soviet Navy. Following the dissolution of the USSR, Russia’s post-Cold War budget could not maintain the large vessel.

It was in the early 2000s that New Delhi opted to retire INS Viraat – a former Royal Navy Centaur-class light aircraft carrier that had been commissioned as HMS Hermes. While in British service, the carrier served as the flagship of the Royal Navy’s task force during the Falklands War in 1982.

Naval variant of the second generation MiG-29, with the NATO codename ‘Fulcrum-D’. Reported to be operated by the 100th Independent Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment (OKIAP) based at Severomorsk. On static display at the Aviation cluster of the ARMY 2017 event. Kubinka Airbase, Moscow Oblast, Russia.

In 2004, Moscow closed a deal with New Delhi, where the Indian Navy would receive the aircraft carrier for free but paid Russia $974 million for upgrades. It may sound like a good deal, but there has likely been no shortage of buyer’s remorse. Delays in the overhaul were compounded by increased costs, leading New Delhi to shell out $1.2 billion extra for the project.

The carrier also arrived four years late, and engine problems have persisted, and it was unable to maintain its maximum speed. It was discovered that low-grade Chinese-designed fire bricks instead of asbestos were used in the boiler insulation. Other mishaps and incidents have troubled the carrier, including a toxic gas leak that killed two workers back in 2016 and a fire that erupted in the boiler room of the ship a few years later.

The warship will now undergo a major refit to address its numerous flaws and to make it a more capable warship.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs.  You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.