The Indian Navy’s pride, INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured aircraft carrier, has solidified its position as a maritime juggernaut in the Arabian Sea. Following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack on April 25, 2025, which claimed 26 civilian lives, the 45,000-tonne warship has been deployed near Karwar, approximately 600-700 km from Karachi, signaling India’s unwavering resolve to counter threats. Armed with the Israel-designed MF-STAR radar system and the Barak-8 missile defense platform, INS Vikrant leads a formidable Carrier Strike Group (CSG) comprising submarines armed with advanced missiles, destroyers, frigates, drones, and support vessels. This robust ecosystem, coupled with the Barak-8’s precision, not only safeguards the fleet but also poses a significant threat to critical Pakistani infrastructure, such as Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. As tensions escalate, Vikrant’s deployment underscores India’s dominance and its ability to reshape the strategic landscape of the region.
The Pahalgam attack, widely attributed to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, has pushed India-Pakistan relations to a boiling point. In response, INS Vikrant was deployed on April 23, 2025, as confirmed by satellite imagery, to assert India’s maritime superiority. Powered by General Electric turbines generating 1.10 lakh horsepower, the warship carries up to 40 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighters and Ka-31 helicopters. Its arsenal, featuring 64 Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles and BrahMos anti-ship missiles, makes it a floating fortress. The Carrier Strike Group amplifies this strength with Kolkata-class destroyers like INS Chennai and INS Mormugao, each equipped with 32 Barak-8 missiles, 16 BrahMos missiles, torpedo tubes, and anti-submarine rocket launchers. Talwar-class and Nilgiri-class frigates provide additional firepower, while fleet tankers ensure sustained operations through mid-sea replenishment. Crucially, the group includes advanced submarines, such as the Kalvari-class (Scorpene) and Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), which carry potent missile systems like the K-15 Sagarika and K-4 ballistic missiles, capable of striking targets up to 3,500 km away. These submarines add a stealthy, long-range offensive capability, enabling the CSG to engage both maritime and land-based targets with devastating precision.
The MF-STAR radar system is the nerve center of Vikrant’s defensive and offensive capabilities. This active electronically scanned array radar excels at detecting airborne threats, including aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and cruise missiles, at extended ranges. It provides real-time data to the Barak-8 missile system, a medium-range surface-to-air missile with a strike range exceeding 80 km. Jointly developed by India and Israel, the Barak-8 intercepts threats with pinpoint accuracy, even countering sea-skimming missiles. The radar’s ability to track multiple targets simultaneously ensures comprehensive protection for the CSG. Integrated with platforms like INS Surat, which successfully test-fired a Barak-8 missile on April 24, 2025, the MF-STAR creates a networked defense grid. This synergy was evident in recent naval exercises, where the Navy demonstrated its ability to switch seamlessly from peacetime to combat mode, showcasing the CSG’s readiness and lethality.
The Barak-8’s reach extends far beyond protecting the fleet—it threatens critical infrastructure like Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, located perilously close to the coast. Positioned within the missile’s 80-km range, the airport is vulnerable to Vikrant’s arsenal. The MF-STAR radar can track aircraft during takeoff or landing, feeding precise coordinates to the Barak-8, which can neutralize airborne targets with lethal efficiency. In a conflict scenario, this capability could disrupt civilian and military air operations, grounding flights and crippling Karachi’s role as Pakistan’s economic hub. The threat is magnified by Vikrant’s MiG-29K fighters, which can launch air-to-surface missiles to target ground infrastructure. Reports suggest that the CSG’s combined missile and air strike capabilities could choke up to 60% of Pakistan’s sea trade by targeting ports like Karachi and Gwadar. The inclusion of submarines armed with K-15 and K-4 missiles further escalates this threat, as these underwater assets can launch strikes from undetected positions, potentially targeting strategic sites deep within Pakistani territory.
The CSG’s ecosystem is a self-sustaining war machine. Kalvari-class submarines, equipped with Exocet anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, provide underwater defense against enemy submarines and surface ships. The Arihant-class SSBNs, with their ballistic missile capabilities, introduce a strategic dimension, capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads. Destroyers and frigates, armed with BrahMos missiles, engage surface targets at ranges up to 300 km, while their Barak-8 systems counter aerial threats. Surveillance assets, including Boeing P8-I maritime patrol aircraft, Predator drones, and India’s Rukmini satellite, ensure unmatched situational awareness, detecting threats far beyond the horizon. The P8-I’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities neutralize underwater risks, while drones provide real-time targeting data. This integrated approach was validated in recent drills, where INS Surat’s Barak-8 missile successfully engaged a sea-skimming target, underscoring the Navy’s precision and operational excellence.
Pakistan’s reaction to Vikrant’s deployment reveals its unease. On April 25, 2025, Pakistan claimed its “anti-access and area-denial” strategy forced Vikrant to retreat to Karwar, but Indian sources, including a post on X by @grok on April 29, 2025, confirm that Vikrant remains fully operational in the Arabian Sea. Pakistan’s partial closure of Karachi and Lahore airspace until May 31, 2025, and the repositioning of radar systems along the border indicate heightened apprehension. The Barak-8’s ability to disrupt air operations near Karachi, combined with the CSG’s submarine-launched missile threat, could paralyze Pakistan’s coastal defenses. The K-4 missile’s 3,500-km range places even inland targets at risk, forcing Pakistan to recalibrate its defense posture.
The strategic implications of Vikrant’s deployment are profound. The CSG’s ability to project power, deter aggression, and strike critical targets reshapes the balance in the Arabian Sea. The Barak-8 system, backed by the MF-STAR radar and submarine-launched missiles, creates a multi-layered threat that Pakistan cannot easily counter. The Pahalgam attack has galvanized India’s resolve, and Vikrant’s presence sends an unequivocal message: any misadventure will invite a swift and overwhelming response. As the Navy continues to modernize, with plans to induct more missile-armed submarines and advanced warships, India’s maritime dominance will only grow.
In conclusion, INS Vikrant, with its MF-STAR radar, Barak-8 missiles, and missile-armed submarines, is a game-changer for the Indian Navy. Leading a versatile Carrier Strike Group, it holds the potential to disrupt Karachi’s airport, choke Pakistan’s trade, and assert control over the Arabian Sea. The Pahalgam attack has underscored the need for such capabilities, and Vikrant’s deployment is a testament to India’s readiness to defend its interests with unmatched force. As tensions simmer, Vikrant stands as a sentinel, ensuring that adversaries pay a heavy price for any aggression.