Why INS Vikrant Is A Powerful Force To Reckon With

INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, is not only a source of national pride but also a keystone of India's naval strategy. Following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's military establishment has been actively trying to build myths that belittle the operational efficacy of this home-grown Indian aircraft carrier. Pakistani authorities have claimed that the carrier never really threatened their coastal defences and had modest capabilities in comparison to Western equivalents. These claims are blown to bits when faced with the realities of operations and the strategic significance that INS Vikrant demonstrated during the recent confrontation between the two nuclear-powered neighbours.

The strategic value of INS Vikrant goes beyond any one operation. As India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, Vikrant marks a milestone in Indian maritime history and defence technology self-reliance. Commissioned by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited, it is the biggest ship ever built in Indian maritime history. Its induction into the Western Fleet in August 2024 gave India a powerful dual-carrier capability, together with INS Vikramaditya, enhancing India's naval power projection to hitherto unknown levels.

INS Vikrant gained Full Operational Clearance in December 2024 upon undergoing comprehensive trials and fleet working exercises. The combat capability of INS Vikrant was further certified in the AMPHEX and TROPEX 2025 exercises, where it effectively carried out air strikes, anti-submarine exercises, and amphibious assaults in realistic operational conditions. With 14 decks towering to the height of a 14-storey building and a runway as long as a double football ground, the carrier can serve as a launchpad for nearly 40 fighter aircraft at quick intervals. The ship is not only a waterborne command centre but also a lethal airborne strike platform able to project power well beyond littoral defence missions.

The Pakistani version propagates that INS Vikrant would have space only for "8 to 12 MiG-29s" and had to scurry back to the coastline of Mumbai "in fear of reprisal". These claims misrepresent the carrier's capability and operational profile during the crisis. In fact, INS Vikrant hosts a multi-air wing of 30 aircraft, ranging from MiG-29K fighter planes to Kamov-31 helicopters, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, and domestically produced Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH). This vast and powerful air element allows the carrier to engage larger forces and project force, perform anti-submarine warfare, and deliver precision strikes against enemy targets – a far cry from the restricted operational capabilities that Pakistani sources sought to depict.

INS Vikrant — A Class Apart

INS Vikrant is the flagship of a potent Carrier Strike Group (CSG), which consists of guided missile destroyers, stealth frigates, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft. The CSG functions as an integrated, multi-dimensional entity that can perform a variety of missions, ranging from sea control and power projection to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Carrier Strike Groups exist to fight at standoff distances, launching their air wings hundreds of kilometres forward to strike the enemy with missiles and bombs while being protected by layers of escorts and surveillance platforms. Vikrant's air wing, augmented by India's P-8I Poseidon and satellite-based maritime domain awareness, provides it with the potential to dominate much of the Indian Ocean.

INS Vikrant's Dominance In Bangladesh Liberation War

One can only imagine the full force and efficiency of a Carrier Strike Group by looking at the operational power in the Bay of Bengal in December 1971. India and Pakistan's war was ongoing when an aircraft carrier, controlling the eastern naval fleet for India, INS Vikrant (British-built, formerly HMS Hercules), entered the battlefront.  To escape threats posed by the Pakistan submarine PNS Ghazi, Vikrant remained in stealth mode.

The aircraft carrier, an exquisite floating piece of engineering, performed uninterrupted aerial manoeuvres against East Pakistan. Its Alizé and Sea Hawk fighters struck major supply ports, including Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Khulna, and Mongla. These attacks and blockades became progressively more effective, achieving the goal of isolating Pakistani forces and forcing them to surrender due to the lack of supplies.

INS Vikrant not only exerted critical control but also provided psychological dominance over the seas that Pakistan's troops needed access to. The old Vikrant symbolised India's determination and ascendancy in the battle for dominance over South Asia. Its operations didn't just support the liberation of Bangladesh; they accelerated the efforts, sealing a swift and decisive victory that reshaped the subcontinent.

INS Vikrant's Role In Operation Sindoor

During Operation Sindoor, INS Vikrant commanded a powerful 36-ship fleet that included seven destroyers armed with BrahMos missiles, Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM), and Varunastra heavyweight torpedoes. Sent to the Arabian Sea off Karwar, Vikrant ventured closer to Pakistani waters as a calculated demonstration of power. By May 9, it was patrolling off Karachi. Its mere presence meant that Pakistan had to keep its aerial and maritime forces in a defensive posture, not daring to strike first lest they invite instant retaliation.

This dominant Carrier Battle Group moved with absolute impunity across the northern Arabian Sea. Reports show that Vikrant's deployment had an unsettling psychological effect on Pakistan's military command. The prospect of another 1971-style Operation Trident and Python loomed large, recalling when Indian warships bombed Karachi port.

Pakistan's navy, already burdened with ageing submarines and limited anti-submarine warfare capabilities, was compelled to scatter and conceal its fleet along the Makran coast of Balochistan and avoid direct engagement.

Far from withdrawing, the Carrier Strike Group imposed a de facto blockade and kept Karachi Port – Pakistan's sole economic entry point and naval nerve centre – well within reach of its precision weapons systems. This overwhelming demonstration of force kept the Pakistan Navy confined within its harbours, severely limiting its operational flexibility and forcing it to broadcast NAVAREA warnings.

Pakistan Lags Far Behind India

While Pakistan boasts of its preparedness, its naval capabilities and surveillance power remain limited. It does not possess indigenous satellite-based maritime awareness and depends heavily on external sources. In contrast, India has its GSAT-7 satellite, coastal radar chains, and real-time ISR integration, providing unparalleled situational awareness in the Indian Ocean Region.

Dominance of the Indian Navy in Operation Sindoor was complete. Under the claim of defending its ports and shipping lanes, the Indian Navy successfully took charge of the Arabian Sea, guaranteeing the safety of Indian shipping interests and keeping all major Indian ports continuously operational.

The reality of INS Vikrant stands in stark contrast to the doctored illusions propagated by Pakistan. INS Vikrant is not merely a vessel but an instrumental asset that enhances India's capacity to deter aggression, protect its maritime interests, and project power well beyond its coastal borders. Its presence in any theatre of operations is a statement of intent and capability. The historical record proves that Indian carrier groups have repeatedly shaped strategic outcomes. The home-built Vikrant carries on that tradition, serving as a dominant presence in the Indian Ocean and a cornerstone of India's maritime security architecture.

As India continues to build its naval strength and strategic positioning, INS Vikrant will remain at the centre of its sea power projection – a floating fortress that is both shield and sword in defending the country's maritime interests from any aggressor who dares challenge India's sovereignty.

(The writer is a Naval Veteran and a Military Historian. Views expressed are his own.)

[Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal.] 

blog