The commissioning of India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured aircraft carrier marks a defining moment in the history of the Indian Navy. Building and successful induction of INS Vikrant, the successor to illustrious first aircraft carrier bearing the same name, has put India in select club of the world’s great Naval powers.
The first ever aircraft carrier to be indigenously designed and constructed at the Cochin Shipyard, INS Vikrant will strengthen the country’s standing as a ‘Blue Water Navy’ a maritime force with global reach and capability to operate over deep seas. From the first indigenous warship INS Ajay in 1960, to the first indigenous frigate INS Nilgiri in 1968, the commissioning of the first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, is a significant move towards self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat), become a strong maritime force and future exporter of larger defence platforms like aircraft carriers to friendly nations like Australia, Taiwan, Japan and others who want to bolster their maritime strength, especially against the common foe a belligerent China.
At 45,000 tonnes, Vikrant is the largest naval ship to be designed and built in India, and with this accomplishment, the country joins the band of nations that have demonstrated such capability with major countries like United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Russia, Italy, and China.
The first INS Vikrant played an important role in several military operations including the 1971 Indo-Pak War before being decommissioned in 1997. Now the new INS Vikrant will be a key element of the Indian Navy’s ambitions to establish itself as a blue water force, make its presence felt across the world. But first priority is to contain China and maintain its position on the Indian Ocean Region.
Growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean is a major concern for India and the countries of Asia-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific’s vast maritime region has been tense because of China’s territorial disputes with its neighbours, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy has been modernising for more than 10 years to become more of a “blue water” force – one capable of operating globally rather than being restricted to remaining closer to the Chinese mainland. Aircraft carriers are critical for such a task. China’s two aircraft carriers were joined by a third one in June. It currently has some 355 ships, including submarines, according to the US Defence Department, which estimates that the force will grow to 420 ships by 2025 and 460 ships by 2030. India’s naval fleet now includes two aircraft carriers, 10 destroyers, 12 frigates and 20 corvette ships.
Critics say that India’s future conflict(s) with China will be in the Himalayan heights and should not invest so much on expensive defence platforms like aircraft carriers. But one must remember that all the major powers in the country are having a strong navy. Also, China has been trying to encircle India by setting up bases in the neighbourhood. It already has presence in Pakistan in the form of developing Gwadar port in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Chittagong in Bangladesh. Also it has been raising objections to India’s attempts to do oil exploration in South China Sea.
Considering that our country is heavily dependent on maritime trade route for its economic growth, it is important to have strong capacity to protect our interests. In that situation, it is imperative to have a strong Navy.
The armed forces spent Rs 38,156 crore on importing military hardware in 2019-20 which was 41.89 per cent of the total capital procurement. India plans to scale up its domestic military hardware manufacturing base from the current $11 billion to $25 billion by 2025. Of this, it further intends to create an export component of $5 billion. By strengthening our defence manufacturing, we will reduce dependency on others for crucial spare parts, reduce burden on our exchequer and boost our economy through exports, along with strengthening our defence. It is a win-win situation.
