Indian Navy Seeks Third Aircraft Carrier, Calls It A Tactical Necessity For Future Surge Capability

The Indian Navy has called upon the Indian defence establishment for a third aircraft carrier, while calling it a tactical necessity, Indian Express has reported.

The Indian Navy currently one operational aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and a second, aircraft carrier "Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC 1)" is currently being built.

A top naval officer quoted in the report has said that thee aircraft carriers for the Navy are a tactical necessity as a third aircraft carrier will provide the surge capacity which will be required in the future.

"When the second carrier is commissioned, the first one will go for refitting, so we will again be left with one. But if you have two, in the field of war, it increases your options by a lot", the officer has been quoted as saying.

The officer adds that building a third aircraft carrier would mean that India will effectively utilise the Navy's skill in operationalising aircraft carriers.

The officer added that another advantage of building a made-in-India aircraft carrier is that 90 per cent of its expenses are reinvested into the Indian Economy.