2024-05-11 14:30:50
New Delhi : China has completed the first sea trials of its third aircraft carrier. This trial was for 8 days and according to Chinese media it was successful. China has announced the construction of its fourth aircraft carrier just a few months ago. China’s fourth aircraft carrier will be a nuclear powered super carrier.
China is expanding its navy
China commissioned its first aircraft carrier Liaoning in 2012. Launched the second aircraft carrier shading in 2017. The first trial of the third aircraft carrier Fujian has taken place and its trials will continue for about two years. This is China’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier so far. Its weight is 79000 tons. Its fighter jet launch system is Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). Currently, the world’s largest aircraft carrier owned by the US, the Gerald Ford, has this launch system. The two aircraft carriers that China has have ski jump systems. EMALS is the most advanced system and with it aircraft can take off comfortably and heavy fighter jets can also take off. Due to which the load capacity increases. China has already announced that its target is to include 5 to 6 aircraft carriers in its navy by 2030.
What does it mean for India?
China is continuously expanding its navy. Since 1990, China has focused more on expanding its navy rather than its army. China is also trying to increase its activities in the Indian Ocean region. Aircraft carriers provide the Navy of any country with the ability to operate aircraft continuously without any interruption. When the aircraft provides a protective umbrella to other ships by taking off from the aircraft carrier, then other war ships like frigates and destroyers can complete their offensive tasks. Aircraft carrier is a kind of floating airbase in water and is important for sovereignty in the sea.
How is the system of India’s aircraft carrier?
China’s third aircraft carrier has Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) which is more advanced. The Indian Navy currently has two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and the indigenous INS Vikrant. Both have stobar system. The runway on the carrier deck is very short compared to the runways on the ground. Therefore, the force generated by the aircraft engine is not enough to take off the aircraft. Therefore he needs help from outside also. In such a situation, Stobar or Catobar system helps. Stobar Matbal Short takeoff but arrested recovery. In this the front part of the deck is raised. This is called a ski jump. The second system is Catobar. This means Catapult Assisted Take Off but Arrested Recovery. In this the deck of the carrier is completely flat. Therefore it is also called flat topped aircraft carrier. Catobar system increases the capacity of the aircraft and it also increases the payload capacity of the aircraft, that is, the aircraft taking off from the aircraft carrier can carry more explosives or materials. The US Navy has most of its aircraft carriers with CATObar systems.
What third aircraft carrier will the Indian Navy get?
The Indian Navy has two aircraft carriers, one of which is indigenous. Navy has put forward the case for the second indigenous aircraft carrier. In September last year, the Defense Procurement Board approved its need. It is still awaiting the approval of the Defense Acquisition Committee i.e. DAC. Lok Sabha elections are going on, hence now the discussion on this will move forward only after the formation of the new government. But will the Navy really have three aircraft carriers? Even after getting approval for the new aircraft carrier, it will take about 8-10 years to build it and by then INS Vikramaditya will be on the verge of retirement. In this way, the new aircraft carrier that will be acquired will actually replace Vikramaditya and overall the Navy will still have only two aircraft carriers.
Speed is necessary so that there is no gap
If the Indian Navy does not get another indigenous aircraft carrier in time, then there is a possibility of a gap once again in meeting the needs of the Navy. The Navy got its first aircraft carrier in 1961, which played an important role in the 1971 war. The second aircraft carrier INS Viraat was commissioned in 1987 and retired in 2016. Earlier in 2013, INS Vikramaditya was commissioned in the Navy. After the retirement of INS Viraat in 2016, the Navy was left with only one aircraft carrier by 2022. In such a situation, when it went under maintenance, the Navy was performing its duties without any aircraft carrier. If another indigenous aircraft carrier does not arrive soon and it is time for INS Vikramaditya to retire, then there is a danger of such a gap arising again. Aircraft carriers form the backbone of command, control and coordination of entire operations at sea and are therefore extremely important.