India launches first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant
India launched its first indigenously-built aircraft carrier on Monday, a landmark moment in the US$5 billion project that seeks to project the country’s power and check the rising influence of China.
When the INS Vikrant comes into full service in 2018, India will become the fifth nation to have designed and built its own aircraft carrier, pushing ahead of China to join an elite club that includes Britain, France, Russia and the United States.
“It’s a remarkable milestone,” Defence Minister AK Antony said as he stood in front of the giant grey hull of the ship at a ceremony in the southern city of Kochi. “It marks just a first step in a long journey but at the same time an important one.”
India’s capability is very much with China in mind
The ship, which will be fitted with weaponry and machinery and then tested over the next four years, is a major advance for a country competing for influence in Asia, analysts say.
“It is going to be deployed in the Indian Ocean region where the world’s commercial and economic interests coalesce. India’s capability is very much with China in mind,” said Rahul Bedi, a defence expert with IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly.
On Saturday, India announced its first indigenously-built nuclear submarine was ready for sea trials, a key step before it becomes fully operational. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called it a “giant stride” for the nation.
“All these are power projection platforms, to project India’s power as an extension of its diplomacy,” Bedi added.
New Delhi is spending tens of billions of dollars upgrading its mainly Soviet-era military hardware to bolster its defences.