The commissioning of the first indigenous Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant today is a moment of pride for the country. It is a major step forward in the growth of India’s naval capabilities and will enhance our strategic weight in the Indian Ocean region. India has joined a select club of nations such as the United States and China with independent aircraft carrier building capabilities.
INS Vikrant, built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore, is credited with creating around 2,000 jobs at Cochin Shipyard and another 13,000 indirectly. With over 70% of its parts sourced domestically, it will be a great achievement if India can achieve similar indigenization in military and air force purchases, as has been achieved for the Navy. However, the challenge for India is that it has to keep pace with China, which has the largest navy in the world and is building new warships at a frantic pace.
Of course, Indo-Pacific multilateral initiatives like Quad and Aukus will help, but it is important for India to rely on its own strength. The argument for a third aircraft carrier is strong in naval circles because it allows for the deployment of at least one aircraft carrier each on India’s east and west coasts while the third can be serviced and refitted. The Cabinet Security Committee must consider such a request at this time. It took nearly two decades for Vikrant to go from green light to commissioning. Building the next aircraft carrier will take at least a decade. Ultimately, India will have to grow at a faster pace if it is to allocate more defense spending and this is where the Center and states must come together for much delayed economic reforms.
Read also: PM Modi commissions India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant
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