The British warship that India wants: quantum leap on the high seas
November 16th, 2009 - 8:00 pm ICT by IANS
- By Dipankar De Sarkar
London, Nov 16 (IANS) A futuristic aircraft carrier that India is reported to be keen on buying from Britain is envisaged as a giant guardian of the high seas, capable of travelling thousands of kilometres from home and wreaking massive destruction on enemy targets, experts said Monday.
India has reportedly “lodged a firm expression of interest” in buying one of two huge aircraft carriers that are currently under construction - the largest warships ever built by Britain, and designed to be the most capable aircraft carriers outside the US Navy.
Britain is considering selling the warship to India for two billion pounds under a cost-cutting plan chalked out by its ministry of defence, the Observer reported Sunday quoting senior defence sources.
The two 65,000-tonne ships are being built for the Royal Navy by British Aerospace (BAE) - HMS Queen Elizabeth, on which work began this July will be the first to be rolled out in 2016. And preparatory work has started for the second, the Prince of Wales, due for launch in 2018.
A leading British naval expert told IANS the two warships embody a “huge quantum leap” in terms of technology, reach and power.
“It’s all about power projection. The Indian Navy is in the process of expanding its reach as a naval force capable of operating far from its own shores,” said Jon Rosamond, editor of the authoritative Jane’s Navy International.
“The Indian Navy has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden on an anti-piracy mission, but this ship will increase its reach even further afield,” he added.
“It would give India access to the Far East and even the Western Pacific. The aircraft carrier has a life span of 40-50 years, so there has been a lot of speculation. People are talking about the rivalry with China in particular,” Rosamond told IANS.
The ships under construction are the result of recommendations that came out of a wide-ranging Strategic Defence Review (SDR) undertaken by the Labour government in 1997 of nearly every weapon system in Britain.
The SDR concluded: “The emphasis is now on increased offensive air power, and an ability to operate the largest possible range of aircraft in the widest possible range of roles.”
The warships will be equipped with ski ramp-assisted takeoff at the front, which will suit the Sukhoi strike aircraft that India is buying from Russia, Rosamond said.
“It will be able to carry not only enhanced aircraft, but also more of them,” Rosamond said.
Strategic experts said that the anticipated “quantum jump” in Indian naval power would have the backing of the world’s major navies.
Related Stories
- Outgoing Indian Navy chief to drop anchor in Goa - Aug 21, 2009
- US clears Hawkeye E-2D aircraft for India - Sep 13, 2009
- Naval chief defends price paid for aircraft carrier Admiral Gorkshov - Jul 30, 2009
- India's sole aircraft carrier turns 50 Wednesday - Nov 16, 2009
- Indian Navy heads for first Atlantic Ocean deployment - May 29, 2009
- (INS Viraat refit complete, gears up for golden jubilee - Aug 17, 2009
- Keel laid for India's first indigenous aircraft carrier (Lead) - Feb 28, 2009
- Keel laying of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier - Feb 26, 2009
- First indigenous aircraft carrier to be named INS Vikrant - Mar 02, 2009
- 'Second-hand' Gorshkov costlier than new warship: CAG (Lead) - Jul 24, 2009
- Sci-Tech
- - british aerospace bae
- - british warship
- - capable aircraft
- - defence sources
- - enemy targets
- - expression of interest
- - futuristic aircraft
- - gulf of aden
- - indian navy
- - life span
- - massive destruction
- - navy international
- - power projection
- - preparatory work
- - prince of wales
- - quantum leap
- - queen elizabeth
- - rosamond
- - royal navy
- - us navy
Posted in Sci-Tech, |
November 16th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
This news seems to be speculation. Vikramaditya will be in service by 2012. No way India is going to purchase a carrier that will arrive only in 2017 when India’s own carriers will be in service by 2014 and the second one by 2017. They will rather invest the money in second carrier and a third one with nuclear propulsion.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:53 am
The Indian defense planners seem completely oblivious to the rapid developments that is going on in the field of precision strike missiles with long range powerful and destructive capabilities.
The aircraft carrier is a sitting duck to such missiles in future hostile engagements. Plus the huge loss of men that have to go down with it to the sea bottom. Simple as that.
Only superpowers like USA with tremendous resources and geo-political connections to provide layers and layers of peripheral defense around their aircraft carriers can deploy such sea vessels with some sense of protection from such anti-ship missiles.
It is a real pity that the Indians are spending such massive amounts of money to get such ships to sail around the world solely for ego boosting purposes.
What a colossal folly.!
November 19th, 2009 at 1:00 am
@ Sunil Dhavan
Dont worry abt chinesse DF ASBM. That is a mere speculation plus China will itself field its own Carrier not very far from today. As for protecting a CBG it always moves around plus there will be many Air Defence ships around it. But consider the prospect in terms of its reach and power. One USN CBG can take out 90% of any asian AF (barring IAF and PLAF). Although it will not carry 90 fighters like the largest USN carriers but if stationed with F 35 or Indian stealth MCA, would give a very potent and long reach to the Indian Navy. I hope this goes through.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:17 am
I think that India should buy this aircraft carrier.But India should also Make a defence shield around it to save from external threat. In this time India is capable to save its sole aircraft carrier from arial & Missile threat.But it should ensure same safty from submarrines also.Because India Don’t want to loss its any soldier.Thanks,keep it up.
November 19th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Read article on upiasia.com regarding aircraft carrier acquisition strategy by asian countries in security section.this decision to sell one of the Brit carriers will take a long time!
November 19th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
India should focus on large number of silent killers rather than a few loose and exposed targets that could be tracked all the way. Especially in an asymmetric war with neighbors, who plans to joint their hands against India.
In my opinion, India needs:
1) More electric and nuclear salient submarines with CBM, ICBMS, and hypersonic missiles for navy
2) Advanced, portable and all weather radars and missiles for Army
3) Unmanned attack aircrafts and long range & supersonic cruise missiles for air force.
4) All the above with a full backing of ABMs and electronic intelligent gathering systems
If we go after a few big and continuously exposed war machines (e.g. aircraft carries, big aircrafts, heavy tanks), our enemies on both sides can track and pick them easily, leaving India a toothless tiger in the every beginning of a possible war.
Our procurement team should not go behind what is available or given out, but should collect what is needed for our nation to constantly and continuously keep up the fear of enemy. Look Pak & Chinese strategy of more submarines and fewer ships in their fleets, more cruise and CBMs missiles than tanks and aircrafts. Lesser the number of big machines, lower the number of men needed to operate each one of them and thereby lower chance of detecting them and lest lose at a piece (in the worst case).
November 19th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
guys . dont worry of spending too much money in buying this aircraft carrier frm britain, whn our own LCA (tejas) or MCA flies in the air, this carrier will also help us to create a fear in our enemy minds.
without making our armed forces strong we cant except peace in our country.
JAI HIND……..