Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:25am on 03 Oct 2023,Tuesday Defence
India intends a massive naval buildup involving additional aircraft carriers, submarines, and assets to match China's growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean region. Plans include a 45,000-ton repeat order of indigenous carrier INS Vikrant. The navy targets 175 warships by 2035, up from around 155-160 currently. Augmenting drones, helicopters, and aircraft is also planned to boost reach and flexibility. However, the navy is yet to get approval for a 3rd carrier critical for countering China's projected 555 warships. India's first homemade INS Vikrant took over a decade, highlighting the challenges in indigenous production.
