Posted on 09/02/2022 10:29:01 AM PDT by DFG
Nor do they have experience with 24/7 all-weather carrier-borne flight operations. Then again, neither do the Red Chinese. But India obviously aspires to be a blue water power, else they wouldn't be investing in flat tops and nuclear submarines.
India has been operating Carriers since 1961. They can operate in any weather required for Indian Ocean ops. Would be pointless to compare to the USN carrier ops.
The nuke subs are only to deter the Chinese nukes. Indias interest is limited to the Indo-Pacific in the forseeable future.
An aircraft carrier, in itself, is extremely vulnerable. The question is, does India have the necessary flotilla - ships, subs, etc. - to support the carrier? Probably not.
India has enough experience operating flattops. The first was inducted in 1961. The IN carriers will be operating in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea mainly. The IN has enough ships for a CBG. Debate over the total costs of 1 more CBG is what is delaying a third, much bigger carrier.
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