The Indian Navy Chief, Adm R Hari Kumar, said on 3 December, soon after taking over that the third aircraft carrier will bring a specific capability for the navy as it will have strike powers, air defence and surveillance capability. “It will protect the assets of the navy at sea. Submarines bring a different capability, of sea denial and stealth,” he added.
“It (third aircraft carrier) is not either/or, it’s a capability we have to have,” he said.
The navy has long pushed for a third aircraft carrier for several years, but the chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat insisted on prioritising procurement of submarines over a carrier, Admiral Kumar said.
He also said the Indian Navy must have the right balance of surface ships, submarines and aircraft. “We are developing a plan as per integrated capability development plan (ICDP), which will decide the right mix of ships, submarines and aircraft,” he added.
The ICDP is a combined capability development plan of the three services for 10 years. The navy chief also said based on the ICDP, it will be decided how many ships strong the Indian navy aspired to become.
He indicated that a 170-ship force that the navy envisaged earlier was not the final goalpost, and that it could increase or decrease depending on capability plans being developed and budgets.
The Indian Navy currently has 130 ships. A total of 28 woman officers are currently deployed across 15 warships at present, he added.
