The INS Vikramaditya, a former Soviet carrier that India bought from Russia, is about to be put back into service. India plans to put two carrier battle groups in the Indian Ocean Region. The relaunch of the aircraft carrier is an important step towards that goal (IOR). The event is important for India’s efforts to strengthen its maritime power in the region and fight back against China’s growing assertiveness in the area.
The INS Vikramaditya is expected to be launched soon and will join the INS Vikrant, India’s first carrier built by Indians. The INS Vikrant was launched in September of last year and is currently being outfitted and tested at sea. By the end of the year, the Indian Navy wants both aircraft carriers to be fully operational.
The relaunch of INS Vikramaditya, on the other hand, is a big deal for the Indian Navy’s ability to project power in the IOR.
INS Vikramaditya: An important asset for the Indian Navy
In the current geopolitical situation and with tensions rising with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India’s maritime posture in the Indian Ocean Region is not only important for national security but also has a strategic meaning. INS Vikramaditya, on the other hand, is an important part of the Indian Navy.
Airborne capability: The INS Vikramaditya can carry and support many different types of planes, such as fighter jets, helicopter gunships, and early warning planes. This gives the Indian Navy the ability to fly, which is important for maritime operations like air defence, fighting against submarines, and showing power.
Increased operational reach: The INS Vikramaditya is one of the Indian Navy’s biggest warships, and it has a large operational range. The ship can be sent to many different places and help with many different kinds of maritime operations, such as fighting pirates, helping people in need, and dealing with disasters. It can also help with maritime security operations.
Enhanced regional stability: People have seen the launch of INS Vikramaditya as a sign of India’s growing naval power and its ability to get and use advanced military technology. This has helped make the area more stable and strengthened India’s position as a major player in the Indo-Pacific.
Joint operations with other navies: The INS Vikramaditya has done exercises with the US Navy and the Russian Navy. This has helped build interoperability and improve cooperation between navies, which is important for promoting stability and security in the region.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-Navy) has been working for more than a decade to grow and update its fleet. Notably, it now has the largest navy in the world. Also, China launched its first aircraft carrier made in China in June of last year as part of a plan to give its navy more power and range.
Also, in August 2022, China put its surveillance ship Yuan Wang 5 in the Indian Ocean Region, which made New Delhi worry about security. In light of these changes, INS Vikramaditya will be a key part of improving the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy and adding to the stability and security of the region.
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