The Indian Navy is set to conduct significant two-carrier exercises in the Arabian Sea, marking a major milestone in its maritime capabilities.
This follows the recent induction of INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, into the Western Fleet based in Karwar.
INS Vikrant, a 44,000-tonne vessel capable of carrying 28-30 aircraft, joins INS Vikramaditya, bolstering the navy's "Sword Arm" and placing India among an elite group of nations with the capacity for dual-carrier operations.
The upcoming exercises will involve both carriers and their supporting Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs), simulating a complex tactical environment with opposing forces.
A CSG typically includes an aircraft carrier as its centerpiece, along with destroyers, frigates, and at least one submarine to provide comprehensive defense. The air wing, comprising fighter jets and helicopters, forms the core offensive power of the CSG.
These exercises serve several crucial purposes. Primarily, they will rigorously test all systems on board INS Vikrant, from its air wing and air traffic control to the aircraft lift system used to move fighters from the hangar to the flight deck.
The drills will also evaluate the aircrew's responsiveness to "scramble jets" orders, ensuring their ability to react swiftly and effectively in critical situations.
Furthermore, the exercises will assess the aircrew's proficiency in launching aircraft under challenging conditions, including night operations, adverse weather, and even when the carrier is experiencing significant motion.
This comprehensive evaluation will ensure that INS Vikrant is fully integrated and operational within the fleet.
The Qualitative Staff Requirements (QSR), a document outlining all structural and operational parameters for INS Vikrant, will be used to measure the carrier's performance.
This includes evaluating the "sortie generation rate" – the number of aircraft sorties the carrier can launch in a given time – and the aircrew's ability to launch aircraft in difficult conditions, a maneuver likened to "threading a moving needle."
A team of inspectors from the fleet headquarters will oversee the exercises and assess the readiness of INS Vikrant and its crew.
Successful completion of these drills will formally induct INS Vikrant into the Indian Navy's fleet, significantly enhancing India's maritime power projection capabilities in the Arabian Sea and beyond.
This development comes at a time of increasing geopolitical complexities in the Indo-Pacific. With China's growing naval presence in the region, India's ability to deploy two carrier strike groups is seen as a crucial deterrent and a significant step towards maintaining regional stability.
