[War & Business] India's Aircraft Carrier

On the 4th (local time), India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, IAC-1 Vikrant, set sail from the military dock in Kochi, a southern port city of India, embarking on its maiden sea trial. [Image source=Indian Navy website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Indian Navy's indigenous aircraft carrier IAC-1 Vikrant, whose trial voyage photos were first revealed on the 4th, means 'a warrior who takes a step ahead' in Hindi. The Indian government is known to have proceeded with the trial voyage despite the COVID-19 pandemic and economic difficulties, aiming to counter China after a bloody conflict occurred last year in the Himalayan border region.

Although officially called an aircraft carrier, it is classified as a light aircraft carrier with a displacement of 40,000 tons and the capacity to carry about 40 aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters, which is smaller than a full-scale aircraft carrier. It is about half the size of China's recently reported 85,000-ton aircraft carrier known as 'Type 003' and smaller than the 65,000-ton Shandong currently operated by the Chinese Navy.

Nevertheless, foreign military experts view the Indian carrier as the biggest obstacle to China's maritime ambitions. Unlike Europe or the United States, which are over 30,000 km away from their home countries, India shares a border with China and has the most experience operating aircraft carriers in East Asia.

India previously purchased the HMS Hercules, an aircraft carrier built by the UK during World War II but left unused after the war, in 1957 and commissioned it as Vikrant in 1961, operating it until its retirement in 1997. This first Vikrant played a significant role during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The Indian Navy used the Vikrant to conduct air raids on mainland Pakistan, devastating its air power, and within 20 days of the war's outbreak, Pakistan ultimately recognized Bangladesh's independence, securing victory. Having operated a carrier strike group with combat experience for over 60 years, India has accumulated the longest operational experience in East Asia, excluding Japan during its imperial period.

Compared to the Indian Navy with such combat experience, the Chinese Navy has no real combat experience with aircraft carriers. The first carrier, Liaoning, was commissioned in December 2019, and Chinese fighter instructors have only recently obtained qualifications for night carrier-based flight. Considering that at least 60% of all carrier-based fighter pilots must be certified for night flying to operate a carrier strike group, China is just taking its first steps.

If India introduces the American F-35 fighter jets, known as the most advanced carrier-based aircraft, it is expected to enable joint carrier training exercises with the United States, Japan, and Australia. The world is closely watching whether China can overcome this experience gap with its vast financial resources.