Indonesia Plans to Field Its First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, Eyes Indian Assistance in Design, Propulsion, and Aircraft Operations

Indonesia is embarking on a significant project to build its first domestically-produced aircraft carrier, seeking to strengthen its naval presence and maritime defense capabilities.

As part of this ambitious endeavor, Indonesia has reached out to India for collaboration on various aspects of aircraft carrier technology.

This request highlights Indonesia's recognition of India's growing expertise in naval shipbuilding. India recently achieved a major milestone with the commissioning of the INS Vikrant, its first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier.

The INS Vikrant, with a reported 76% of its components sourced within India, demonstrates the country's proficiency in constructing large, complex warships and integrating crucial systems, including propulsion, combat management, and aircraft launch and recovery operations.

According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, the INS Vikrant is 262 meters long and 62 meters wide, displacing approximately 43,000 tonnes when fully loaded. It can operate a variety of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

While the specific details of Indonesia's request are not yet fully public, potential areas of cooperation are numerous. India could potentially provide valuable insights into the overall design process, including hull construction and structural engineering.

Sharing lessons learned from the INS Vikrant project, particularly regarding balancing cost-effectiveness, operational capability, and construction timelines, could be extremely beneficial.

Furthermore, Indonesia might be interested in specific Indian-developed technologies. This could include collaboration on gas turbine engines, and potentially even future electric propulsion systems.

India's expertise in aircraft handling on deck, including launch and recovery systems, along with established safety procedures, is also likely of interest.

India has also made significant advancements in developing its own radar, communication, and control systems, and integrating these onto a carrier platform.

Beyond the physical components of the carrier, India could provide training for Indonesian Navy personnel in aircraft carrier operations, maintenance procedures, and overall crew management. This would enhance the operational readiness of any future Indonesian carrier.

 

[Sandeep]

Do you think China will give Indonesia carriers? Or even let them develop?

Yes to make money they will if they think Indonesia really wants a carrier. That way they can control that carrier, weapons, technology and equipment.

 

[Prince singh Rawat]

Yes to make money they will if they think Indonesia really wants a carrier. That way they can control that carrier, weapons, technology and equipment.

Carrier is a very powerful asset, and even a single carrier makes your navy very powerful. I don't think China will let Indonesia get one, let alone help them for that.

 

[Anant]

Wasn't it Indonesia that wanted to send warships to aid Pak during the Indo-Pak conflict? Check their records. Regarding the unity of the OIC, today's outcomes are not tomorrow's. Just because it is happening today, it doesn't mean tomorrow it would be the same. But do you agree that they're all snakes, right? Dude, why even compare imparting 'expertise' on AC making with that US GPS denial? Both are different and thus illogical.

Once India shares its expertise & knowledge on building an aircraft carrier with Indonesia, Indonesia will have acquired that knowledge and will no longer be dependent on India for it. They can go to Turkey and other nations if India denies assistance or spare parts for AC warships.

In that sense, India would lose its leverage to deny or withhold that expertise from Indonesia in the future, unlike the US denying GPS support to India during the Kargil War. The US didn't give us expertise, aka knowledge, to build GPS but to use it under their monitoring. Whereas, Indonesia is asking for full expertise, also remember ToT on BrahMos.

Not to give any undue credit to Indonesia, but that 1965 period was actually an outlier for them. Sukarno was facing internal strife, and like all dictators, he decided to set up a boogeyman in India. This was the period between 1962-ish and 1967, when Sukarno was overthrown.

Oh, and they renounced their illegitimate claims over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in a maritime border agreement signed in January 1977.

Other than that, ties between India and Indonesia have been amicable.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Let them go. If they want an aircraft carrier, they will get it from us, China, Russia, France, or even the UK. It's better we get the order. Regarding ToT, there is nothing groundbreaking in the Vikrant class.

Then let them get it from others. The French are expensive. China is a competitor, as it has a boundary dispute with Indonesia. The US and UK are also expensive. Indonesia is welcome to waste money hiring them. Anyway, India will never give them the expertise to build ACs. India's "wait and watch" agenda won't allow them to gain expertise. Lol.

 

[P2S2]

Let them go. If they want an aircraft carrier, they will get it from us, China, Russia, France, or even the UK. It's better we get the order. Regarding ToT, there is nothing groundbreaking in the Vikrant class.

Other than land gypsies there were sea gypsies floating in the seas same like space left overs these beings learnt to survive away from Arrogance they managed to propagate and defeat the Egyptian Pharaohs. The Siamese and Chinese civilisations had contacts with these forces that was why Siam handed over Malaya to Indian royalty from Sumatra and after the Europeans brought stability Brunei handed over Sarawak to a Englishman, it was forced to even hand over Limbang stripping ITSELF into two parts. Vikrant will have sisters in Thailand and Indonesia.

 

[P2S2]

Not to give any undue credit to Indonesia, but that 1965 period was actually an outlier for them. Sukarno was facing internal strife, and like all dictators, he decided to set up a boogeyman in India. This was the period between 1962-ish and 1967, when Sukarno was overthrown.

Oh, and they renounced their illegitimate claims over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in a maritime border agreement signed in January 1977.

Other than that, ties between India and Indonesia have been amicable.

They are the same race one getting fashionable noses one sticking with natural evolution.