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A THIRD aircraft carrier is an “operational necessity” for the Navy, a prime officer from the pressure advised The Indian Express, days after Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh careworn on the significance of aircraft carriers on the Navy Day press convention. The Navy Chief’s views revived the dialogue among the many forces on whether or not India wants a third aircraft carrier – aside from INS Vikramaditya and the under-construction Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC 1).
Addressing reporters on December 3, Admiral Singh stated the pressure “does not want to be a Navy tethered to the shore” and “air power at sea is absolutely required”. “The Navy is all about reach and sustenance. If you, as a nation, that is aspirational… you will have to go outwards, seek the world, you will have to move out… And for that you require air power, and you require it at longer ranges, aircraft carrier is absolutely necessary,” he stated.
The strong pitch for aircraft carriers, nevertheless, might not seem aligned with the views of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, who previously – and most not too long ago in an interview to India Today final week – stated that aircraft carriers are susceptible targets and that the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep can be utilized as “unsinkable aircraft carriers”.
Prioritisation in defence acquisition is without doubt one of the main mandates of the Chief of Defence Staff.
The prime Navy officer The Indian Express spoke to agreed with Admiral Singh’s views. “If you have to guard your interests, you have to move outwards,” the officer stated. “Shouldn’t we have the capability to go where the challenge lies.”
Without mentioning anybody particularly, the officer stated, “They say the aircraft carrier will sink if attacked by an anti-ballistic missile… that it can, no doubt as all boats can sink. But then why haven’t we got anti-ballistic missiles? We should also develop them and use them as a deterrent against other forces. If they target our aircraft carriers we should target theirs. Why have this negativity, that an aircraft carrier can sink.”
“We don’t have the luxury,” he stated, by way of funds, “but don’t reject the idea, thinking that it will sink”.
Underlining the significance of defending the huge Indian Ocean Region, the officer careworn on the necessity for “persistent air power – it should be there, day and night”. “How does America come, how can China come (close to Indian Ocean Region), because they are guarding their interests,” the officer stated.
“Three aircraft carriers are tactically needed,” as sooner or later “surge capability” will probably be wanted, which a third carrier will add, he stated.
He stated another excuse to construct and have a third carrier is due to the experience gained by the Navy and the nation to run them. “We are very lucky that we have learned how to operationalise aircraft carriers and naval aviation in 60 years. We have mastered the art of maritime aviation. We have developed the skill over the years, it is not easy to operate an aircraft carrier. Should we let this skill go to waste.”
Giving three main causes to construct and have a third carrier, the officer stated that first “it is an operational necessity”, second, “don’t deny yourselves the skill sets in operations, and the skill sets in design and building” of such carriers. Third, he stated, “It puts money back into the economy, generates employment and enhances industrial capacity.” He stated 90 per cent of the fee will probably be invested again into the financial system as it will likely be constructed indigenously, and can increase the financial system.
He stated, “rather than refining” the potential we’ve got, “it will be pushed off” if the thought is rejected. “It is not that you don’t have the need for another carrier, then you are denying it just for money. That is a misplaced understanding,” the officer stated.
Operationally, he stated, “When the second carrier is commissioned, the first one will go for refitting, so we will again be left with one. But if you have two, in the field of war, it increases your options by a lot.”
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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