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April 1, 2005
India plans to have two aircraft carriers, both equipped with modern fighter-bombers and anti-submarine helicopters, in service by 2012. The first carrier, entering service in 2008, is a refurbished, 40,000 ton carrier from Russia. This one will cost $1.5 billion, but will provide India with a lot of technology it will use to build another, 37,000 ton, carrier. This one will enter service in 2012 and will cost about $800 million. India will operate navalized MiG-29 fighters on both carriers. These aircraft will have the most modern electronics and missiles. With these two carriers, India will dominate the Indian Ocean and the southwest Pacific. The total coast of this new carrier aviation capability will run close to $5 billion, once the cost of escorts, training, support ships, and shore facilities, are included. When these two carriers are in service, the only Navy in the world that could threaten Indian domination of the Indian Ocean is the American fleet. But even here, this would only apply when Indian carriers were outside the range of their land based warplanes.
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