Despite Nuclear Submarine Focus, Indian Navy Remains Committed to Second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier for Enhanced Three-Carrier Fleet in IOR

The Indian Navy is firmly pursuing the construction of a second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-II), notwithstanding recent reports suggesting a shift in focus towards nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs).

Navy sources have confirmed that efforts are actively underway to obtain final approval from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for IAC-II, which is planned to be a follow-on to the INS Vikrant (IAC-I), India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier.

The Navy is pressing to accelerate the project, aiming to avoid delays beyond the originally anticipated 2030 timeline.

IAC-II, designed as a conventionally powered, 45,000-tonne aircraft carrier, is a crucial element of the Navy's long-term strategy to maintain a three-carrier fleet. This ensures that two carriers are always operational, while the third undergoes maintenance.

Recent media speculation arose after the MoD greenlit a substantial ₹40,000 crore (approximately $4.8 Billion USD) project in January 2025 to build two SSNs, suggesting a potential redirection of resources away from aircraft carriers. However, sources close to the Navy have refuted these claims, emphasizing that both the carrier and submarine programs are viewed as essential and complementary, not mutually exclusive.

The need for IAC-II is driven by India's strategic imperative to maintain a strong naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where it faces increasing maritime competition from China and Pakistan.

INS Vikrant, commissioned in September 2022, represented a significant achievement as India's first domestically built carrier. It is currently capable of operating MiG-29K fighter jets and various helicopters.

IAC-II, planned to be similar in design to Vikrant with some improvements, will bolster this capability and provide operational flexibility as INS Vikramaditya, a refurbished Russian-origin carrier, approaches the end of its operational life by the mid-2030s.

The Navy is aiming to avoid the prolonged 13-year construction timeline that INS Vikrant experienced, which was affected by funding issues and technical challenges. It's proposed that IAC-II be built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), which gained considerable experience during the construction of Vikrant.

The estimated cost of IAC-II is ₹50,000 crore (approximately $6 Billion USD). If the MoD approves the project, construction could potentially start within two years, leading to a possible delivery date of 2032 – significantly earlier than some previous estimates.

A notable planned modification for IAC-II is its capability to operate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). While keeping the Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system and ski-jump used on Vikrant, the new carrier's deck and hangar are expected to be optimized for naval drones.

This move is in line with a global trend; navies worldwide, including those of the U.S. and China, are integrating UAVs into carrier operations for missions such as surveillance, strikes, and electronic warfare. The Navy's ongoing Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program, could potentially be use of second platform for advancement.

The MoD's support for the SSN program, which intends to construct six nuclear attack submarines by 2040, has contributed to the perception of a resource competition between submarines and carriers.

SSNs are crucial for countering China's expanding submarine presence in the IOR and enhancing India's underwater deterrent capabilities due to their stealth and long-range operational capabilities. The recent approval for two SSNs, to be built domestically with 90% indigenous components, underscores this priority.

However, naval officials maintain that the SSN and IAC-II programs fulfill separate roles in addressing different strategic needs. A senior officer stated that submarines provide underwater dominance, whereas aircraft carriers project power and ensure control over the sea surface and airspace.

Hence both are deemed indispensable for a "blue-water" navy capable of operating across vast oceanic expanses. The Navy's long-term plan envisions a balanced fleet comprising three aircraft carriers and 18 SSNs by 2047, highlighting this dual-track approach.

The primary challenge remains budgetary constraints. The Navy's capital allocation of ₹2.5 lakh crore (approximately $30 Billion USD) over the next decade must cover 62 warships, submarines, and the SSN program, leaving limited flexibility.

Nevertheless, the Navy argues that a phased approach, with IAC-II construction in the near term and SSN development spread out through 2040, can alleviate financial pressures while still meeting operational requirements.

 

[Praveen]

They should at least enlarge this plan to the size of the Kuznetsov class, with a displacement of 55,000 tons, 310 meters length, with ski jump, etc., with UACV and capabilities of operating heavier aircraft such as the Su-33, which the Russians previously did. By the way, for those who say that the Su-33 is outdated and such, I know that and also know that it is not in production. I'm just giving an idea, that's all. If ever something such as AMCA comes out really, then they should at least make it carrier-capable.

 

[Bird Watcher]

Lesson for the government: If you destroy the economy, you won't have funds to support critical programs.

Lack of funding for AMCA, Ghatak, IAC-2, MTA... Delayed funding for LCA Mark 1A...

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

Where is the battle group for INS Vikrant?
Where are the fleet replenishment/supply/tanker ships?
Or the escort ships: destroyers, frigates?
Or even the mine sweepers?
Or the AWECS? Or even the refuellers?
Or the SSNs (nuclear attack submarines) to protect the INS Vikrant?!
Where are the Rafale M jets and LCH Mk3 helicopters for the INS Vikrant?!

And we want to talk about IAC-2?! No way!

To begin with, we need the SSNs (Nuclear attack submarines) and the minesweepers to protect our ships and ports, and the P-8I sub hunters first.

Until we have long legs with submarines, escort ships, and jets ready for deployment, the CBG is just on paper, and it isn't a blue water Navy until then. With 2 functional aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, it's ok to wait; it's a luxury.

We are not China or the USA, to enjoy multiple CBGs worth billions of USD. That's the fight of the superpowers for world domination; we are far away from it.

Nor are we having the basics in place, with aging 7 Kilo class, 6 Scorpene without AIP...

...and urgent, immediate solutions like P75I, P76 submarines.

Without even a single AIP-powered sub, minimal SSBN, no SSNs, no next-gen torpedoes or autonomous underwater drones yet, the undersea fleet is concerning.

Also struggling with aging MiG-29Ks with all availability issues, and missing twin-seat MiG-29KUB trainer jets in adequate numbers, or IJT or naval Tejas, the aviation fleet is also a problem.

And of course, Dhruv helicopters in a mess, and LUH nowhere...

And the Rafale-M coming for 7bn+ just for 26 jets, not until 2029, and that too with issues operating from INS Vikrant due to the lift's size.

And are impossible to operate from INS Vikramaditya as they cannot go into the lift at all.

And 4 twin-seat trainers being only land-based, so only 22 fighters really.

So we are dependent mostly on the MiG-29K; Chetak and the Cheetahs, which are at least 50-year-old relics; or the obsolete Ka-31 for deck-based surveillance role; and aging Sea King helicopters.

With MH-60R just arriving for the existing fleet and needing more Predator/Sea Guardian drones, with TAPAS fiasco...

12 P-8Is overstretched, with 6 more being considered, and no dedicated naval refuellers, both for aircraft and also fleet replenishment ships...

No AWACs/AWECS, either land-based or aircraft carrier-based for the navy. Even the air force is struggling here, along with refuelling tankers too, being a long-standing issue with no solution in decades for IAF too.

No minesweepers for years is a critical defense gap, and also missing next-gen torpedoes for the Kalvari subs, or AIP yet, and P75I is also going nowhere yet.

We are up against the huge Chinese Navy and their "chota bhai" Pakistan Navy, and Bangladesh too. Pakistan being armed by them with 8 subs and more warships from Turkey and China.

We have an aging fleet which is facing obsolescence and accidents and needs the P15B frigates, P17A destroyers to support the P15A, and will need the P17B and P18s too, fast, just to maintain minimal deterrence across both east and west and the IOR.

With all this, the focus must be on the aging, depleted submarine fleet, as we are in a horrible mess with the conventional AIP-driven and the nuclear submarines, with SSBNs and SSN needed in the next 10-15 years in dozens.

And the amphibious/landing dock ships/UAV/helicopter carriers have also not moved ahead and also are higher priority. Also, our surveillance/spy ships and ballistic missile monitoring ships are in small numbers.

We also need more BrahMos and air defense Barak 2, and LRSAMs, long-range radars, and attack missile LRAShM and sub-launched cruise missiles, and heavy torpedoes, close-in air defense, counter measures, and advanced sonar in large numbers too.

So basically, missing defensive assets, we cannot have the luxury of going for an offensive platform like IAC-2, when we are really just clearing the earlier mess and replacing older platforms with a huge backlog, not growing to counter China anytime yet.

The 2nd aircraft carrier will have to wait another decade, or at least 5 more years, for another review, when we say become the 3rd/4th largest economy from the current 5th position.

And need a lot more budget and really necessity for it, with autonomous underwater drones, and hypersonic anti-ship missiles making aircraft carriers really difficult to protect, and huge targets for the enemy, making them vulnerable.

And that too will need huge budgetary allocations of at least 15-20b USD to get the ships, its fighter jet fleet of TEDBF, and the CBG escort ships, AWECS, UAVs, etc., not to mention skilled naval pilots, infrastructure, radars, next-gen engines, not to mention air defense, AWECS, close-in missile/drone/hypersonic missiles defense systems, and a huge operation crew and enormous operation costs.

The TEDBF are also at least 10 years away from 1st flight and will take much longer to form a fleet, so with the airwing in question, we will again have the similar situation that we have a ship but not enough or the right jets for it for IAC-2, which is a tens of billions of dollars fiasco.

Even the nuclear missile-based and the naval-based systems need modernisation and drone protection systems in large numbers.

We are the world's most populous nation, not the one with the most GDP or the highest per capita income. We will fight with India "jugad", whatever that means in this case.

 

[The_rED_dEVIL]

Where is the battle group for INS Vikrant?
Where are the fleet replenishment/supply/tanker ships?
Or the escort ships: destroyers, frigates?
Or even the mine sweepers?
Or the AWECS? Or even the refuellers?
Or the SSNs (nuclear attack submarines) to protect the INS Vikrant?!
Where are the Rafale M jets and LCH Mk3 helicopters for the INS Vikrant?!

Battle group of Vikrant is waiting in Eastern fleet. INS Vikrant is supposed to and will be deployed in the East. This is temporary deployment. Vikrant will be deployed from Visakhapatnam or INS Varsha as reported earlier.

The CBG of Vikrant will include Delhi-class destroyers, Shivalik-class frigates and/or Nilgiri-class (all which will be inducted by 2027 will replace Shivaliks in CBG), Kamorta-class corvette and INS Shakti (fleet replenishment ship). As for minesweepers, they are never meant for deployment with Carrier Battle Groups but only in naval bases or with Amphibious groups for shallow water operations.

Rafales to be ordered for Carrier Air Group and we have Dhruv, Ka-31, meanwhile MiG-29K is being operated.

Probably study things from Wiki at least before writing, I guess?

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

India has to increase its defence budget... India needs a 100 bn dollar defence budget, but unfortunately, freebies and subsidies are taking the maximum budget from the govt... no funds for R&D, unfortunately.... It's a sad reality....

 

[Leo red]

Too late now, Pakistan will be having strong submarine teams by then. First, build strong defence around existing shop and battle groups. Nuclear subs are the only option. Aircraft carrier will ruin lots of money just in maintenance and logistics.

 

[பாலா குப்புசாமி]

We need 5 ACs, 1 for IO, 2 for the Bay of Bengal, 3 for the Arabian Sea, 4th in the Pacific, and 1 for service. 45,000 tons are enough. After the 5th, we will increase the size to 75,000 tons for future ACs.

 

[Enforcer]

We need Amphibious Assault ships more than Aircraft Carriers. Amphibious Assault ships also carry aircrafts, usually helicopters and some of them have VTOL Harrier or F-35B. These ships carry troops and tanks and trucks etc etc for a full on assault from a beach front.

There will come a day when we will have to take on Maldives and Sri Lanka. Better start building now. Also it would be very vital to do beach landings in balochistan when we get into another war with Pakistan and spread out their troops thinly.

 

[Diganta Ghosh]

I would suggest it to be a good idea. We must now focus on either S5 class or other SSNs. IAC is a good leap in power but I think SSNs would be more reasonable.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

We need Amphibious Assault ships more than Aircraft Carriers. Amphibious Assault ships also carry aircrafts, usually helicopters and some of them have VTOL Harrier or F-35B. These ships carry troops and tanks and trucks etc etc for a full on assault from a beach front.

There will come a day when we will have to take on Maldives and Sri Lanka. Better start building now. Also it would be very vital to do beach landings in balochistan when we get into another war with Pakistan and spread out their troops thinly.

A big bunch of 2,000 km long-range drones on amphibious ships will do. No need for fighters in a robot-infested battlespace. Future war will be M2M.

 

[Nahian Ramim]

Vikramaditya took 10 years to be in service after work started. Vikrant took 14 years. Even if construction starts right now, it would take at least 7 years, meaning 2032. But, unlikely construction will start in a year, so 2032 is a false target.

 

[Nahian Ramim]

We need 5 ACs, 1 for IO, 2 for the Bay of Bengal, 3 for the Arabian Sea, 4th in the Pacific, and 1 for service. 45,000 tons are enough. After the 5th, we will increase the size to 75,000 tons for future ACs.

It's not even sure 3 carrier forces will be inducted by 2040 (IAC-2 is the replacement for Vikramaditya).

 

[Sudha]

Lesson for the government: If you destroy the economy, you won't have funds to support critical programs.

Lack of funding for AMCA, Ghatak, IAC-2, MTA... Delayed funding for LCA Mark 1A...

Funny. As far as funding is concerned, it is being done, but our DPSUs are lacking in efficiency, due to which Bharat's security is being weakened & huge cost overruns are happening. The next war between China & the US will prove flattops are obsolete in the missile era.

 

[Shrujanam Syama]

Lesson for the government: If you destroy the economy, you won't have funds to support critical programs.

Lack of funding for AMCA, Ghatak, IAC-2, MTA... Delayed funding for LCA Mark 1A...

Is tax collection reducing? Then how is the economy declining? Only IT-related jobs are reducing due to global factors.

 

[Akshat]

Lesson for the government: If you destroy the economy, you won't have funds to support critical programs.

Lack of funding for AMCA, Ghatak, IAC-2, MTA... Delayed funding for LCA Mark 1A...

Absolute lies. Firstly, the collections from GST and other tax collections are at record highs, and our economy is still the fastest growing economy in the world. So not sure what is meant by destroying the economy.

As for the projects you mentioned, AMCA got funding clearance in the same financial year after DRDO asked for funding. In fact, it is DRDO which changed the design even after getting the funds, thus wasting either an entire year or wasting money (if work had already started in those 12 months). Similarly, no money has been sought for Ghatak so far as the design and funding requirements are not clear to DRDO. LCA Mk1A got funding as soon as the deal was signed. And the deal was signed keeping HAL's own production in mind (and they still delayed it massively). So buddy...most of the projects are stuck due to DRDO and DPSUs, not because of a lack of funds. I am not saying there is a ton of spare cash lying around. But the single biggest cause of all delays is DRDO (officially confirmed in the report by PMO). 60% of all delays are solely due to DRDO. Rest 40% are combined due to funding delays, approval delays, requirement changes from forces, delays from foreign vendors etc.

 

[Akshat]

Funny. As far as funding is concerned, it is being done, but our DPSUs are lacking in efficiency, due to which Bharat's security is being weakened & huge cost overruns are happening. The next war between China & the US will prove flattops are obsolete in the missile era.

Oh, flattops are nowhere near obsolete, buddy. Only countries that can't afford them tell you they are obsolete. If they were, why is every country that can have one, want one? From India to South Korea, to Italy, to the UK, to France, to China, to Russia, to the US, if they can get one, they will get one.

 

[हरिः व्योम]

We need Amphibious Assault ships more than Aircraft Carriers. Amphibious Assault ships also carry aircrafts, usually helicopters and some of them have VTOL Harrier or F-35B. These ships carry troops and tanks and trucks etc etc for a full on assault from a beach front.

There will come a day when we will have to take on Maldives and Sri Lanka. Better start building now. Also it would be very vital to do beach landings in balochistan when we get into another war with Pakistan and spread out their troops thinly.

We need dual 200MW++ nuclear-powered Aircraft Carriers above the deck that also house amphibious assault ships below.

 

[GhoshDiganta]

I am still in for more SSNs of S5 class rather than a IAC-2. Yes, a new IAC-2 is needed to replace the old Vikramaditya and a new IAC is also a leap in capability but SSNs are more crucial as per me.