Welcome To The Club, India...
 

... of aircraft carrier building countries. We should trade those Mig 29s for some real fighter jets and give the Migs to the Ukraine. ;)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...dc9399834b10bd

That aircraft swap would upset out great ally, Pakistan.

It is essentially an employment program.

Who needs Rusky 3rd rate MIGs anymore, India makes their own advanced fighter planes. ;)
And in your honor, they are called Tejas. :D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_Tejas


Perhaps send some to Ukraine (will never happen, been too close to the Russians for a long time, though there is little trade or movement between the two countries. But this foreign policy was established when US became an ally of the Pakis and India turned towards the Soviets.

Cool planes they're building. Too bad the US cozied up to Pakistan rather than India.

To be more specific: The Soviets once deployed a nuclear equipped naval group in defence of India against US, UK, Pakistan and China.
That was a very emotional event in India's modern military history.

Welcome To The Club, India...
 

Too bad their navy is a fucking joke. Their only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was forced to go to sea with a dedicated tugboat because it broke down so often. It is now in dry dock for repairs for at least another two years.

https://www.wearethemighty.com/featu...seagoing-joke/

Obviously they prefer submarines to carriers since their primary intent is to snoop. Seems Russia has 68 subs vs. 64 US subs while their economy is about 1/15 of ours. Cheaper to snoop than prepare for battle is my guess.

The Soviets were never enamored with aircraft carriers despite the best efforts of their navy brass.

A carrier is use essentially to project power far from home and requires very expensive protection.

Subs seemed to be a better use of their resources especially considering so much frozen areas adjoin their coastline.

It may be as simple as a sub carries nuclear missiles. The threat of their use goes a long way in projecting a countries power. Look at current events and the use of them to intimidate.

No need for a carrier to blunt adversaries reactions to yours.

Indeed!

Carriers are mainly for non-nuclear projection of power, that is, to go to someone else's area and mess them up. Or for national prestige, which I think is the main thing in India's case.

Agree with you absolutely. What does India need a carrier for? The only constant enemy is Pakistan and both are nuclear armed and doubt there will be a conventional war. Beside Pakistan is in bed with China and doubt India will want to mess around with China now since electronics manufacturing is moving out of China into India. Interestingly Apple set up big time in S. India while Xaomi has multiple facilities there.

I have not been to India now for over three years and do not know the current political economic climate other than that Modi is India's Trump including attaining divine status (god sent is the word Hindus use). One bad word about Modi and they will take your head off. WaPO and NYT are considered rags and Soros in enemy #1 because of conspiracies that he is doing a Murdoch in India.

It's all about strategic control of the Indian Ocean. The vast majority of Chinese exports flow through those waters, and has been deploying naval assets including submarines in the area. India is probably less than thrilled about the Chinese navy gaining a strategic advantage in India's back yard.