India's carrier debate is often reduced to the wrong question. It is made to sound like a matter of prestige, tonnage or naval nostalgia. It is not. The third aircraft carrier is not about pride. It is about geography.India lives in one of the most unforgiving strategic neighbourhoods in the world. To the west is Pakistan, a nuclear-armed adversary with a long record of hostility and military adventurism. To the north and east is China, a nuclear-armed great power with whom India has fought a war and continues to face unresolved land-border tensions. &nbsp;To the south is not emptiness, but the Indian Ocean—the maritime space through which India's trade, energy, influence and strategic future move every single day.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rupee-slide-wars-and-more-indian-students-in-us-battle-currency-crisis-no-one-prepared-them-for-wion-horizons-1780044945428">Rupee slide, wars and more: Indian students in US battle currency crisis no one prepared them for | WION Horizons</a>This is India's strategic reality: two hostile continental fronts and a maritime frontier across the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean Region. That geography demands a fleet structure that can be present on both seaboards when the nation needs it. Today, India is one carrier short of that requirement.This is not a theoretical gap. It is an availability problem. Any navy that has operated major platforms understands the tyranny of maintenance, refit, training cycles, crew work-up, aviation certification and operational deployment. &nbsp;A carrier is not available every day simply because it exists on the order of battle. The old naval logic is simple: if a country needs one carrier continuously available, it needs at least three hulls — one deployed, one preparing or recovering, and one in maintenance. This "rule of three" is not a luxury calculation. It is the mathematics of maritime readiness.India currently has two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. That gives the Navy capability. It does not yet give it guaranteed availability across both seaboards during a national crisis.Now place this within a two-front scenario. A crisis erupts on the western land border with Pakistan. At the same time, Chinese naval activity increases in the Bay of Bengal, the eastern Indian Ocean or near the approaches to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. &nbsp;This is not an alarmist fantasy. The 2020 Galwan crisis showed that Beijing is willing to apply pressure when India is forced into strategic distraction. A coordinated or opportunistic land-maritime pressure scenario is exactly the kind of situation for which serious military planning exists.In such a crisis, if one Indian carrier is in refit or deep maintenance, the remaining carrier must choose. Does it move west into the Arabian Sea to support maritime pressure against Pakistan, protect energy routes and shape escalation? Or does it move east to counter Chinese naval signalling, reassure partners, and defend India's eastern maritime approaches? A carrier cannot be in two seas at the same time.That is the heart of the third-carrier argument. It is not a question of emotion. It is about ensuring that India is never forced to choose between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal when both may be contested simultaneously.The Pakistan dimension is often under-discussed. A carrier battle group operating in the western theatre does not merely threaten naval targets. It forces Pakistan to distribute attention, air defence, coastal surveillance, naval assets and political anxiety at a time when it may prefer to concentrate all pressure on the land border. Karachi and Pakistan's wider coastal infrastructure have always been central to its economic and military vulnerability. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/critical-anchor-hegseth-at-shangri-la-dialogue-lauds-india-calls-new-delhi-a-pillar-of-regional-stability-1780120209830">'Critical anchor': Hegseth lauds India, calls it a pillar of regional stability</a>A credible Indian carrier presence in the Arabian Sea changes Pakistan's planning problem. It creates uncertainty, complicates escalation and opens another axis of pressure without immediately crossing the nuclear threshold. That is what sea power does at its best. It gives political leadership options short of, during and beyond conflict. But that option must be available when the nation needs it, not merely when the refit cycle permits it.The China dimension is larger and more long-term. The People's Liberation Army Navy already operates three carriers, and according to recent assessments, China may seek a total carrier force of up to nine by 2035. &nbsp;Whether the exact number arrives on that timeline or not, the direction is unmistakable: China is building a blue-water navy with carrier aviation as a central instrument of power projection. This is supported by a growing network of access points across the Indian Ocean Region—Djibouti, Gwadar, Hambantota, Chittagong and other nodes that together create the infrastructure of sustained far-seas operations.For India, this matters because the Indian Ocean is not a distant theatre. It is our front yard, our economic lifeline and our strategic depth. A Chinese carrier group signalling in the eastern Indian Ocean directly affects Indian maritime security, regional confidence and the balance of influence in our own oceanic neighbourhood. A two-carrier India can surge. A three-carrier India can sustain. That difference is everything.The energy dimension ties the argument together. India imports nearly 87–88 per cent of its crude oil requirement, much of it through sea lines of communication running through the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. A disruption in these routes is not merely a naval problem. It is an economic emergency. &nbsp;No serious country outsources the security of its energy arteries. A carrier battle group gives India the ability to position sovereign air power where land bases are either unavailable, politically constrained or operationally insufficient.That is the point often missed in the carrier debate. A destroyer can defend and strike. A submarine can deny and ambush. A maritime patrol aircraft can search and classify. But an aircraft carrier carries sovereign air power to sea—aviation, command, surveillance, strike, air defence, helicopters, unmanned systems, logistics and political signalling in one mobile instrument of national power.Having served over four years onboard INS Viraat and operated from carriers, destroyers and frigates, I can say this plainly: a carrier is not just a platform. It is a floating air station, a command centre, a logistics machine, a deterrence signal and a national statement. It is also one of the most demanding military systems a country can operate. That is precisely why only serious navies persist with it.The third carrier must therefore be seen not as an isolated procurement case but as a national maritime architecture decision. India has already demonstrated the ability to build an indigenous carrier through INS Vikrant. The skills, vendor chains and design confidence absorbed through that effort must not be allowed to fade. Warship-building capability is not a tap that can be turned on after a decade of hesitation. A follow-on carrier is not only about fleet numbers; it is about preserving and deepening India's hard-won carrier-building ecosystem.The question is not whether India can afford a third carrier. The question is whether India can afford a carrier gap in the decade when China is expanding, Pakistan remains hostile, and the Indian Ocean becomes the central arena of competition.The future Indian carrier need not be a copy of the past. It must be designed for the next fight — networked, survivable, integrated with destroyers, submarines, P-8I aircraft, MH-60R helicopters, UAVs, space-based surveillance, electronic warfare and long-range precision strike. It must be part of a kill web, not merely a battle group in the traditional sense. &nbsp;The carrier air wing must evolve to include fighters, airborne early warning, unmanned systems, loyal wingman concepts and electronic warfare payloads. The carrier will remain relevant not because it is immune to threats, but because it adapts faster than the threats trying to kill it.The United States is not retiring carriers because missiles exist. China is not avoiding carriers because it has missiles. France, Britain and others continue to treat carrier aviation as a strategic capability because sea-based air power gives a nation choices that no other platform can fully replace. India's geography is even more demanding.We do not have the luxury of choosing between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. We cannot assume that a western crisis will remain western, or that a northern crisis will remain continental. We cannot assume that China will wait outside the Indian Ocean while India is occupied elsewhere, or that Pakistan will not exploit distraction. Strategy built on such assumptions is not strategy. It is hope.A third carrier gives India continuous options across both seaboards — one available in the western theatre, one in the eastern theatre or work-up cycle, and one in maintenance or refit. It gives the Navy flexibility, political leadership choice, and adversaries uncertainty. That is deterrence.The third carrier is not about building a monument. It is about matching fleet structure to geography. It is about ensuring that India's maritime power is available when crisis comes, not when the maintenance calendar is convenient. Two hostile land borders and a three-sea maritime frontier require every instrument of national power.The third carrier is the missing instrument. From the flight deck, this is not about pride. It is about presence. And in the Indian Ocean, presence is power.&nbsp;DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WION. &nbsp;

This is India's strategic reality: two hostile continental fronts and a maritime frontier across the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean Region. That geography demands a fleet structure that can be present on both seaboard when the nation needs it.

India's carrier debate is often reduced to the wrong question. It is made to sound like a matter of prestige, tonnage or naval nostalgia. It is not. The third aircraft carrier is not about pride. It is about geography. India lives in one of the most unforgiving strategic neighbourhoods in the world. To the west is Pakistan, a nuclear-armed adversary with a long record of hostility and military adventurism. To the north and east is China, a nuclear-armed great power with whom India has fought a war and continues to face unresolved land-border tensions. To the south is not emptiness, but the Indian Ocean—the maritime space through which India's trade, energy, influence and strategic future move every single day. Also read | Rupee slide, wars and more: Indian students in US battle currency crisis no one prepared them for | WION Horizons This is India's strategic reality: two hostile continental fronts and a maritime frontier across the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean Region. That geography demands a fleet structure that can be present on both seaboards when the nation needs it. Today, India is one carrier short of that requirement. This is not a theoretical gap. It is an availability problem. Any navy that has operated major platforms understands the tyranny of maintenance, refit, training cycles, crew work-up, aviation certification and operational deployment. A carrier is not available every day simply because it exists on the order of battle. The old naval logic is simple: if a country needs one carrier continuously available, it needs at least three hulls — one deployed, one preparing or recovering, and one in maintenance. This "rule of three" is not a luxury calculation. It is the mathematics of maritime readiness. India currently has two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. That gives the Navy capability. It does not yet give it guaranteed availability across both seaboards during a national crisis. Now place this within a two-front scenario. A crisis erupts on the western land border with Pakistan. At the same time, Chinese naval activity increases in the Bay of Bengal, the eastern Indian Ocean or near the approaches to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This is not an alarmist fantasy. The 2020 Galwan crisis showed that Beijing is willing to apply pressure when India is forced into strategic distraction. A coordinated or opportunistic land-maritime pressure scenario is exactly the kind of situation for which serious military planning exists. In such a crisis, if one Indian carrier is in refit or deep maintenance, the remaining carrier must choose. Does it move west into the Arabian Sea to support maritime pressure against Pakistan, protect energy routes and shape escalation? Or does it move east to counter Chinese naval signalling, reassure partners, and defend India's eastern maritime approaches? A carrier cannot be in two seas at the same time. That is the heart of the third-carrier argument. It is not a question of emotion. It is about ensuring that India is never forced to choose between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal when both may be contested simultaneously. The Pakistan dimension is often under-discussed. A carrier battle group operating in the western theatre does not merely threaten naval targets. It forces Pakistan to distribute attention, air defence, coastal surveillance, naval assets and political anxiety at a time when it may prefer to concentrate all pressure on the land border. Karachi and Pakistan's wider coastal infrastructure have always been central to its economic and military vulnerability. Also read | 'Critical anchor': Hegseth lauds India, calls it a pillar of regional stability A credible Indian carrier presence in the Arabian Sea changes Pakistan's planning problem. It creates uncertainty, complicates escalation and opens another axis of pressure without immediately crossing the nuclear threshold. That is what sea power does at its best. It gives political leadership options short of, during and beyond conflict. But that option must be available when the nation needs it, not merely when the refit cycle permits it. The China dimension is larger and more long-term. The People's Liberation Army Navy already operates three carriers, and according to recent assessments, China may seek a total carrier force of up to nine by 2035. Whether the exact number arrives on that timeline or not, the direction is unmistakable: China is building a blue-water navy with carrier aviation as a central instrument of power projection. This is supported by a growing network of access points across the Indian Ocean Region—Djibouti, Gwadar, Hambantota, Chittagong and other nodes that together create the infrastructure of sustained far-seas operations. For India, this matters because the Indian Ocean is not a distant theatre. It is our front yard, our economic lifeline and our strategic depth. A Chinese carrier group signalling in the eastern Indian Ocean directly affects Indian maritime security, regional confidence and the balance of influence in our own oceanic neighbourhood. A two-carrier India can surge. A three-carrier India can sustain. That difference is everything. The energy dimension ties the argument together. India imports nearly 87–88 per cent of its crude oil requirement, much of it through sea lines of communication running through the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. A disruption in these routes is not merely a naval problem. It is an economic emergency. No serious country outsources the security of its energy arteries. A carrier battle group gives India the ability to position sovereign air power where land bases are either unavailable, politically constrained or operationally insufficient. That is the point often missed in the carrier debate. A destroyer can defend and strike. A submarine can deny and ambush. A maritime patrol aircraft can search and classify. But an aircraft carrier carries sovereign air power to sea—aviation, command, surveillance, strike, air defence, helicopters, unmanned systems, logistics and political signalling in one mobile instrument of national power. Having served over four years onboard INS Viraat and operated from carriers, destroyers and frigates, I can say this plainly: a carrier is not just a platform. It is a floating air station, a command centre, a logistics machine, a deterrence signal and a national statement. It is also one of the most demanding military systems a country can operate. That is precisely why only serious navies persist with it. The third carrier must therefore be seen not as an isolated procurement case but as a national maritime architecture decision. India has already demonstrated the ability to build an indigenous carrier through INS Vikrant. The skills, vendor chains and design confidence absorbed through that effort must not be allowed to fade. Warship-building capability is not a tap that can be turned on after a decade of hesitation. A follow-on carrier is not only about fleet numbers; it is about preserving and deepening India's hard-won carrier-building ecosystem. The question is not whether India can afford a third carrier. The question is whether India can afford a carrier gap in the decade when China is expanding, Pakistan remains hostile, and the Indian Ocean becomes the central arena of competition. The future Indian carrier need not be a copy of the past. It must be designed for the next fight — networked, survivable, integrated with destroyers, submarines, P-8I aircraft, MH-60R helicopters, UAVs, space-based surveillance, electronic warfare and long-range precision strike. It must be part of a kill web, not merely a battle group in the traditional sense. The carrier air wing must evolve to include fighters, airborne early warning, unmanned systems, loyal wingman concepts and electronic warfare payloads. The carrier will remain relevant not because it is immune to threats, but because it adapts faster than the threats trying to kill it. The United States is not retiring carriers because missiles exist. China is not avoiding carriers because it has missiles. France, Britain and others continue to treat carrier aviation as a strategic capability because sea-based air power gives a nation choices that no other platform can fully replace. India's geography is even more demanding. We do not have the luxury of choosing between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. We cannot assume that a western crisis will remain western, or that a northern crisis will remain continental. We cannot assume that China will wait outside the Indian Ocean while India is occupied elsewhere, or that Pakistan will not exploit distraction. Strategy built on such assumptions is not strategy. It is hope. A third carrier gives India continuous options across both seaboards — one available in the western theatre, one in the eastern theatre or work-up cycle, and one in maintenance or refit. It gives the Navy flexibility, political leadership choice, and adversaries uncertainty. That is deterrence. The third carrier is not about building a monument. It is about matching fleet structure to geography. It is about ensuring that India's maritime power is available when crisis comes, not when the maintenance calendar is convenient. Two hostile land borders and a three-sea maritime frontier require every instrument of national power. The third carrier is the missing instrument. From the flight deck, this is not about pride. It is about presence. And in the Indian Ocean, presence is power. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WION.

This is India's strategic reality: two hostile continental fronts and a maritime frontier across the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean Region. That geography demands a fleet structure that can be present on both seaboard when the nation needs it.

Pakistan, China and the sea between: Why India's third carrier is about geography, not pride

From the piston-engine fighters of World War II to today’s stealth jets, these aircraft have extended a nation’s reach far beyond its shores.

Top 7 aircraft carrier jets that changed naval warfare forever

A modern aircraft carrier is more than just a launch platform, it is a self-contained command and control centre. Equipped with advanced radar, communications, and electronic warfare systems, carriers serve as floating headquarters during complex operations.

Why aircraft carriers are still irreplaceable in modern warfare

Today, these mobile airbases remain the centrepiece of modern naval power, projecting air dominance, supporting amphibious operations and ensuring maritime security across vast oceans.

Top 7 nations operating the most aircraft carriers in 2025: Where does India stand?

Promoting Maritime cooperation and security India's Vishakhapatnam is all set to host Milan 2024. The flagship International Naval exercise under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command of the Navy. At least 50 countries have confirmed participation in the event. The Indian Navy will host its largest-ever multinational exercise - "Milan - 2024" - from February 19 to February 27. Watch to know more.

Indian Navy hosts largest-ever multilateral drill, INS Vikrant & INS Vikramaditya to participate

In Pics | Indian Navy demonstrated twin-carrier (CBG) operations

The Indian Navy will soon deploy indigenous firefighting bots on its largest warships, including the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, India-based news agency ANI reported. The move is a major boost for the "Make in India" in defence.&nbsp;While speaking to the news agency, Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral SN Ghormade talked about all the initiatives taken in the maritime force under the "Make in India" project, which is promoted by the Indian government.&nbsp;

On the sidelines of Aero India 2023, Ghormade said: "I was confident that the Navy would be able to fulfil a promise made to the Prime Minister on indigenous projects."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinas-share-in-global-influence-undeniable-s-jaishankar-563423">China’s share in global economy, technology and influence undeniable: S Jaishankar</a>&nbsp;

"Two contracts have already materialised including a fire fighting bot which has been used in INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya aircraft carriers," he added.&nbsp;

While mentioning Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to develop more Made-in-India technologies, he said that the Indian Navy is focusing on getting indegenous&nbsp;game-changing tech&nbsp;which will help in achieving the goal of a combat-ready navy.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Indian Navy to deploy 'Made in India' fire fighting bots on aircraft carriers INS Vikrant, Vikramaditya 
 
Read <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ANI</a> Story | <a href="https://t.co/004Sw0tfaQ">https://t.co/004Sw0tfaQ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianNavy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INSVikrant?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INSVikrant</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vikramaditya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vikramaditya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/madeinindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#madeinindia</a> <a href="https://t.co/8Mxx5vijIO">pic.twitter.com/8Mxx5vijIO</a>
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) <a href="https://twitter.com/ani_digital/status/1626912922046955521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

He stated that the Indian Navy was also working on inducting game-changing technologies like the blue-green laser which can help the force detect underwater vessels and objects.&nbsp;

He also said the IDex programme to promote indigenous defence technologies has been a great success for the Indian Navy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Indian Navy will soon deploy indigenous firefighting bots on its largest warships, including the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, India-based news agency ANI reported.

The Indian Navy will soon deploy indigenous firefighting bots on its largest warships, including the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, India-based news agency ANI reported. The move is a major boost for the "Make in India" in defence. While speaking to the news agency, Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral SN Ghormade talked about all the initiatives taken in the maritime force under the "Make in India" project, which is promoted by the Indian government. On the sidelines of Aero India 2023, Ghormade said: "I was confident that the Navy would be able to fulfil a promise made to the Prime Minister on indigenous projects." ALSO READ | China’s share in global economy, technology and influence undeniable: S Jaishankar "Two contracts have already materialised including a fire fighting bot which has been used in INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya aircraft carriers," he added. While mentioning Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to develop more Made-in-India technologies, he said that the Indian Navy is focusing on getting indegenous game-changing tech which will help in achieving the goal of a combat-ready navy. Indian Navy to deploy 'Made in India' fire fighting bots on aircraft carriers INS Vikrant, Vikramaditya Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/004Sw0tfaQ#IndianNavy #INSVikrant #Vikramaditya #madeinindia pic.twitter.com/8Mxx5vijIO — ANI Digital (@ani_digital) February 18, 2023 × He stated that the Indian Navy was also working on inducting game-changing technologies like the blue-green laser which can help the force detect underwater vessels and objects. He also said the IDex programme to promote indigenous defence technologies has been a great success for the Indian Navy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian Navy plans to deploy indigenous 'firefighting bots' on its largest warships

Why India's indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant worries China

India is flexing its maritime muscles to counter growing Chinese influence, conducting sea trials on its first indigenous aircraft carrier and dispatching a task force for joint exercises with the United States and other allies.

The INS Vikrant, which began trials off the southern state of Kerala on Wednesday, will be India's second aircraft carrier in operation.

The Indian Navy said the country can now "join a select group of nations with the capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier, which will be a real testimony to the 'Make in India' thrust of the Indian Government."

The new 262-metre (860-foot) carrier joins the INS Vikramaditya, the Soviet-made Admiral Gorshkov that India bought in 2004.

The navy said 44 other ships and submarines were being built indigenously. It is also pressing the government for a third carrier, with Navy chief Admiral&nbsp;Karambir Singh saying the force could not remain "tethered".

China, vying for influence in the Indian Ocean where New Delhi has traditionally held sway, is currently building its third aircraft carrier.

The Indian Navy said separately on Monday that it was sending a task force of four ships to South East Asia, the South China Sea and Western Pacific for two months of exercises including with Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Australia and the United States.

The deployment "seeks to underscore the operational reach, peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen existing bonds between India and countries of the Indo Pacific," it said.

India, Japan, Australia and the US together form the "Quad" alliance seen as a bulwark against China.&nbsp;

Last year, 20 Indian troops died in a clash on their disputed Himalayan border with China.

This year, India has also conducted naval exercises with France and most recently with a British task force in the Bay of Bengal last month led by the new HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier.

This week, broadcaster Al Jazeera reported that India may be building a naval facility in the Mauritius archipelago, citing satellite imagery, financial data and on-the-ground evidence.

Mauritius on Wednesday said that although work was underway on an air strip and a jetty on the island of Agalega, they would not be used for military purposes.

India is flexing its maritime muscles to counter growing Chinese influence, conducting sea trials on its first indigenous aircraft carrier and dispatching a task force for joint exercises with the United States and other allies.

India is flexing its maritime muscles to counter growing Chinese influence, conducting sea trials on its first indigenous aircraft carrier and dispatching a task force for joint exercises with the United States and other allies. The INS Vikrant, which began trials off the southern state of Kerala on Wednesday, will be India's second aircraft carrier in operation. The Indian Navy said the country can now "join a select group of nations with the capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier, which will be a real testimony to the 'Make in India' thrust of the Indian Government." The new 262-metre (860-foot) carrier joins the INS Vikramaditya, the Soviet-made Admiral Gorshkov that India bought in 2004. The navy said 44 other ships and submarines were being built indigenously. It is also pressing the government for a third carrier, with Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh saying the force could not remain "tethered". China, vying for influence in the Indian Ocean where New Delhi has traditionally held sway, is currently building its third aircraft carrier. The Indian Navy said separately on Monday that it was sending a task force of four ships to South East Asia, the South China Sea and Western Pacific for two months of exercises including with Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Australia and the United States. The deployment "seeks to underscore the operational reach, peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen existing bonds between India and countries of the Indo Pacific," it said. India, Japan, Australia and the US together form the "Quad" alliance seen as a bulwark against China. Last year, 20 Indian troops died in a clash on their disputed Himalayan border with China. This year, India has also conducted naval exercises with France and most recently with a British task force in the Bay of Bengal last month led by the new HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier. This week, broadcaster Al Jazeera reported that India may be building a naval facility in the Mauritius archipelago, citing satellite imagery, financial data and on-the-ground evidence. Mauritius on Wednesday said that although work was underway on an air strip and a jetty on the island of Agalega, they would not be used for military purposes.

Eye on China, India flexes muscles with new aircraft carrier, task force

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday interacted with Indian Naval Air Squadron 303, also known as "Black Panthers", onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

"Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh interacting with the 'Black Panthers' who defend our seas. RM was also briefed about the functioning of 'Mig-29K' during his day at Sea on INS Vikramaditya," the Defence Ministry tweeted.

Indian Naval Air Squadron 303, the frontline fighter squadron of Indian Navy, was commissioned on 11 May 2013.

The Defence Minister onboard INS Vikramaditya also joined the ship's crew in the morning Yoga followed by a walk around of the ship.

Singh also interacted with the personnel of the Indian Navy's Sword Arm, the Western Fleet.

"I am most impressed to see the professionalism, commitment and spirited approach shown by the brave warriors of the Indian Navy," he tweeted.

Earlier in the morning, Singh said that the Indian Navy is fully prepared to tackle any maritime security challenge.

"I can say with full confidence that our Navy has made full arrangements for maritime security. There is no scope of any doubt about it," Singh told media onboard INS Vikramaditya.

He said Pakistan continues to make attempts to destabilise and divide the country and asserted that Navy and Coast Guard are keeping a strict vigil to foil such efforts.

Singh said, "We cannot forget 26/11 and if there was a lapse (that led to the attack) then it cannot be repeated. Our Navy and Coast Guard are always on alert."

The Defence Minister, who also spent Saturday night onboard INS Vikramaditya, had earlier tweeted,&nbsp;"Spent 24 hours at INS Vikramaditya. This Aircraft Carrier is the 'Sikandar of Samundar'. Visiting 'Vikramaditya' was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. A Day at Sea has given me a new perspective about the capabilities and power of the Indian Navy."&nbsp;

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday interacted with Indian Naval Air Squadron 303, also known as "Black Panthers", onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday interacted with Indian Naval Air Squadron 303, also known as "Black Panthers", onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh interacting with the 'Black Panthers' who defend our seas. RM was also briefed about the functioning of 'Mig-29K' during his day at Sea on INS Vikramaditya," the Defence Ministry tweeted. Indian Naval Air Squadron 303, the frontline fighter squadron of Indian Navy, was commissioned on 11 May 2013. The Defence Minister onboard INS Vikramaditya also joined the ship's crew in the morning Yoga followed by a walk around of the ship. Singh also interacted with the personnel of the Indian Navy's Sword Arm, the Western Fleet. "I am most impressed to see the professionalism, commitment and spirited approach shown by the brave warriors of the Indian Navy," he tweeted. Earlier in the morning, Singh said that the Indian Navy is fully prepared to tackle any maritime security challenge. "I can say with full confidence that our Navy has made full arrangements for maritime security. There is no scope of any doubt about it," Singh told media onboard INS Vikramaditya. He said Pakistan continues to make attempts to destabilise and divide the country and asserted that Navy and Coast Guard are keeping a strict vigil to foil such efforts. Singh said, "We cannot forget 26/11 and if there was a lapse (that led to the attack) then it cannot be repeated. Our Navy and Coast Guard are always on alert." The Defence Minister, who also spent Saturday night onboard INS Vikramaditya, had earlier tweeted, "Spent 24 hours at INS Vikramaditya. This Aircraft Carrier is the 'Sikandar of Samundar'. Visiting 'Vikramaditya' was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. A Day at Sea has given me a new perspective about the capabilities and power of the Indian Navy."

Rajnath Singh interacts with 'Black Panthers' onboard INS Vikramaditya

First pictures: Indian destroyers, French warships take part in exercise Varuna off Goa

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - April 27th, 2019

India's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya caught fire in Karwar, Karnataka on Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

The Navy said officer Lt Cdr DS Chauhan was killed in the fire.

The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry to probe the incident. The fire was controlled by its crew preventing any serious damage to the warship’s combat capability.

Lt Cdr DS Chauhan was leading the firefighting efforts in the affected compartment.

The defence ministry informed that whilst the fire was brought under control, the officer suffered loss of consciousness owing to the smoke and fumes during the firefighting efforts. He was immediately evacuated to the Naval hospital at Karwar, INHS Patanjali for medical attention.

However, the officer could not be revived.

This is the third incident reported on INS Vikramaditya since it was inducted in the Indian Navy in 2014. &nbsp;

In 2016, during a scheduled refit, due to the leak of toxic gas from the sweage treatment plant, two people had died. Another incident took place in 2017 when a MiG 29 aircraft made an emergency landing due to a hydraulic failure.&nbsp;

The ship, a 1987 Soviet aircraft carrier whose original name was Baku, was later named Admiral Gorshkov and sold to India in 2004.

India's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya caught fire in Karwar, Karnataka on Friday afternoon. The Navy said officer Lt Cdr DS Chauhan was killed in the fire. The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry to probe the incident.

India's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya caught fire in Karwar, Karnataka on Friday afternoon. The Navy said officer Lt Cdr DS Chauhan was killed in the fire. The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry to probe the incident. The fire was controlled by its crew preventing any serious damage to the warship’s combat capability. Lt Cdr DS Chauhan was leading the firefighting efforts in the affected compartment. The defence ministry informed that whilst the fire was brought under control, the officer suffered loss of consciousness owing to the smoke and fumes during the firefighting efforts. He was immediately evacuated to the Naval hospital at Karwar, INHS Patanjali for medical attention. However, the officer could not be revived. This is the third incident reported on INS Vikramaditya since it was inducted in the Indian Navy in 2014. In 2016, during a scheduled refit, due to the leak of toxic gas from the sweage treatment plant, two people had died. Another incident took place in 2017 when a MiG 29 aircraft made an emergency landing due to a hydraulic failure. The ship, a 1987 Soviet aircraft carrier whose original name was Baku, was later named Admiral Gorshkov and sold to India in 2004.

India's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya catches fire; 1 officer dead

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-says-ins-vikramaditya-nuclear-submarines-deployed-in-northern-arabian-sea-amid-indo-pak-tensions-203846">Indian Navy says INS Vikramaditya, nuclear submarines were deployed in </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-says-ins-vikramaditya-nuclear-submarines-deployed-in-northern-arabian-sea-amid-indo-pak-tensions-203846">northern</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-says-ins-vikramaditya-nuclear-submarines-deployed-in-northern-arabian-sea-amid-indo-pak-tensions-203846"> Arabian Sea after Pulwama terror attack</a>

The Indian navy said that it had deployed its assets including INS Vikramaditya and nuclear submarines in northern Arabian sea in the last week of February amid tension between India and Pakistan following Pulwama terror attack on February 14.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-bjp-releases-andhra-arunachal-candidates-list-203879">Lok Sabha polls: BJP releases Andhra, Arunachal candidates list</a>

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its list of candidates for the 54 seats of Arunachal Pradesh and 123 seats of Andhra Pradesh for upcoming legislative assembly elections on Sunday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-returns-the-favour-leaves-seven-seats-for-sp-bsp-combine-in-uttar-pradesh-203877">Lok Sabha polls: Congress returns the favour, leaves seven seats for SP-BSP combine in Uttar Pradesh&nbsp;</a>

Pakistan: Four killed, 10 wounded after bomb went off on train track in Balochistan

Four people were killed and 10 injured in Pakistan on Sunday when a bomb went off on a train track in the resource-rich province of Balochistan, where separatist rebels have been fighting the security forces for years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspicious-package-shutters-new-zealands-dunedin-airport-203848">'Suspicious package' shutters New Zealand's Dunedin airport</a>

New Zealand police closed Dunedin airport late Sunday after a suspicious device was reported on the airfield.&nbsp;

'Dunedin Airport is currently closed' a statement said. 'Police are at the scene and specialist teams have been deployed to determine the nature of the package.'

Indian Navy says INS Vikramaditya, nuclear submarines were deployed in northern Arabian Sea after Pulwama terror attack The Indian navy said that it had deployed its assets including INS Vikramaditya and nuclear submarines in northern Arabian sea in the last week of February amid tension between India and Pakistan following Pulwama terror attack on February 14.

Indian Navy says INS Vikramaditya, nuclear submarines were deployed in northern Arabian Sea after Pulwama terror attack The Indian navy said that it had deployed its assets including INS Vikramaditya and nuclear submarines in northern Arabian sea in the last week of February amid tension between India and Pakistan following Pulwama terror attack on February 14. Lok Sabha polls: BJP releases Andhra, Arunachal candidates list The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its list of candidates for the 54 seats of Arunachal Pradesh and 123 seats of Andhra Pradesh for upcoming legislative assembly elections on Sunday. Lok Sabha polls: Congress returns the favour, leaves seven seats for SP-BSP combine in Uttar Pradesh Pakistan: Four killed, 10 wounded after bomb went off on train track in Balochistan Four people were killed and 10 injured in Pakistan on Sunday when a bomb went off on a train track in the resource-rich province of Balochistan, where separatist rebels have been fighting the security forces for years. 'Suspicious package' shutters New Zealand's Dunedin airport New Zealand police closed Dunedin airport late Sunday after a suspicious device was reported on the airfield. 'Dunedin Airport is currently closed' a statement said. 'Police are at the scene and specialist teams have been deployed to determine the nature of the package.'

News brief: Big stories of the day

The Indian navy said that it had deployed its assets including INS Vikramaditya and nuclear submarines in northern Arabian sea in the last week of February amid tension between India and Pakistan following Pulwama terror attack on February 14.

The assets were redeployed from the TROPEX 19 or Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise which is the largest war games of the Indian navy and commenced on January 7.

The Navy in the release said," Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) sponsored terrorist attack on the CRPF convoy in Pulwama on February 14 led to the rapid redeployment of the Indian Navy for Operations in North Arabian Sea."

"The major combat units of the Indian Navy including the Carrier Battle Group with INS Vikramaditya, nuclear submarines and scores of other ships, submarines and aircraft swiftly transited from exercise to operational deployment mode as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated," he added.

JeM is a United Nations listed Pakistan based terror group responsible for the Pulwama attack, the worst attack on Indian security personnel in the last two decades.&nbsp;

Sixty ships of the Indian Navy, 12 ships of the Indian Coast Guard and 60 aircraft were part of TROPEX 19.

The Navy said, "The overwhelming superiority of the Indian Navy in all three dimensions forced the Pakistan Navy to remain deployed close to the Makran coast and not venture out in the open ocean."

During a&nbsp;joint press conference on February 28 by tri-services, it was informed that Indian Navy remained&nbsp;deployed as necessary to protect National Maritime Interests and prevent any misadventure by Pakistan in the maritime domain.

The tri-services press conference took place a day after Pakistan launched strikes against Indian military installations on February 27 in response to India's counter-terror operation against JeM terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan.&nbsp;

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba will be in Kochi on March 18 to preside over the debrief of TROPEX 19.

The Indian navy said that it had deployed its assets including INS Vikramaditya and nuclear submarines in northern Arabian sea in the last week of February amid tension between India and Pakistan following Pulwama terror attack on February 14.

The Indian navy said that it had deployed its assets including INS Vikramaditya and nuclear submarines in northern Arabian sea in the last week of February amid tension between India and Pakistan following Pulwama terror attack on February 14. The assets were redeployed from the TROPEX 19 or Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise which is the largest war games of the Indian navy and commenced on January 7. The Navy in the release said," Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) sponsored terrorist attack on the CRPF convoy in Pulwama on February 14 led to the rapid redeployment of the Indian Navy for Operations in North Arabian Sea." "The major combat units of the Indian Navy including the Carrier Battle Group with INS Vikramaditya, nuclear submarines and scores of other ships, submarines and aircraft swiftly transited from exercise to operational deployment mode as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated," he added. JeM is a United Nations listed Pakistan based terror group responsible for the Pulwama attack, the worst attack on Indian security personnel in the last two decades. Sixty ships of the Indian Navy, 12 ships of the Indian Coast Guard and 60 aircraft were part of TROPEX 19. The Navy said, "The overwhelming superiority of the Indian Navy in all three dimensions forced the Pakistan Navy to remain deployed close to the Makran coast and not venture out in the open ocean." During a joint press conference on February 28 by tri-services, it was informed that Indian Navy remained deployed as necessary to protect National Maritime Interests and prevent any misadventure by Pakistan in the maritime domain. The tri-services press conference took place a day after Pakistan launched strikes against Indian military installations on February 27 in response to India's counter-terror operation against JeM terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba will be in Kochi on March 18 to preside over the debrief of TROPEX 19.

Indian Navy says INS Vikramaditya, nuclear submarines were deployed in northern Arabian Sea after Pulwama terror attack

The annual Malabar naval exercise involving Indian, US&nbsp;and Japanese navies will begin on July 10 amid a standoff between the armies of India and China over the Dokalam plateau and China&#39;s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The annual exercise which will see India sending its largest naval fleet aims to achieve deeper military ties between the three countires.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokeman said that China does not have any objection to such cooperations and relationships as long as such exercises are not directed against a third nation.&nbsp;

&quot;As we have said before, we have no objection to normal bilateral relationship and cooperation among relevant countries. We hope that this kind of relationship and cooperation will not be directed against third country and that it will be conducive to the regional peace and security,&quot; Geng Shuang, China&#39;s foreign ministry spokeman, said.

The standoff between the two armies at the strategically important Dokalam area began over the construction of a road by the Chinese army near the Bhutan trijunction.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Friday in the backdrop of the impasse&nbsp;between&nbsp;both the countries&nbsp;back home.&nbsp;

Beijing has been wary of the Malabar exercise which is seen as an effort to contain its influence in the region.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
India&#39;s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, Japanese warship JS Izumo and US carrier Nimitz will be part of the joint naval drill.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said that China does not have any objection to such cooperations and relationships as long as such exercises are not directed against a third nation

The annual Malabar naval exercise involving Indian, US and Japanese navies will begin on July 10 amid a standoff between the armies of India and China over the Dokalam plateau and China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. The annual exercise which will see India sending its largest naval fleet aims to achieve deeper military ties between the three countires. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeman said that China does not have any objection to such cooperations and relationships as long as such exercises are not directed against a third nation. "As we have said before, we have no objection to normal bilateral relationship and cooperation among relevant countries. We hope that this kind of relationship and cooperation will not be directed against third country and that it will be conducive to the regional peace and security," Geng Shuang, China's foreign ministry spokeman, said. The standoff between the two armies at the strategically important Dokalam area began over the construction of a road by the Chinese army near the Bhutan trijunction. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Friday in the backdrop of the impasse between both the countries back home. Beijing has been wary of the Malabar exercise which is seen as an effort to contain its influence in the region. India's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, Japanese warship JS Izumo and US carrier Nimitz will be part of the joint naval drill.

China cautious ahead of joint India, US and Japan naval drill in Bay of Bengal