SOURCE: AFI
At the recently held India Today Conclave, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, robustly defended the continued relevance of aircraft carriers in modern naval warfare, addressing skepticism that has labeled these floating airbases as “sitting ducks” in the face of evolving threats. The Navy Chief’s remarks come at a time when debates about the strategic utility of aircraft carriers have intensified, given advancements in anti-ship missile technology, hypersonic weapons, and asymmetric warfare tactics employed by adversaries.
Admiral Tripathi not only reaffirmed the critical role of carriers in India’s maritime strategy but also emphasized their adaptability to contemporary challenges, underscoring their importance in maintaining India’s dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The term “sitting duck” has often been used by critics to describe aircraft carriers in the context of modern warfare, where precision-guided munitions, long-range anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), and sophisticated submarine warfare pose significant threats. The argument posits that carriers, despite their immense power projection capabilities, are increasingly vulnerable to detection and attack, rendering them expensive liabilities in high-intensity conflicts. China’s DF-21D and DF-26 “carrier-killer” missiles, for instance, have been cited as game-changers that could neutralize large naval assets like carriers from standoff distances.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Admiral Tripathi dismissed these concerns as overly simplistic, arguing that the vulnerability of aircraft carriers is often exaggerated. “The idea of an aircraft carrier being a sitting duck is a misnomer,” he stated. “Carriers are not solitary entities floating in the ocean—they operate as part of a larger battle group, with layers of defense including destroyers, frigates, submarines, and air cover. Modern naval warfare demands integration and synergy, and carriers are at the heart of that ecosystem.”
Admiral Tripathi emphasized that aircraft carriers remain indispensable for a maritime power like India, which seeks to secure its interests across a vast and strategically critical expanse of the Indian Ocean. With over 7,500 kilometers of coastline, a burgeoning Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and vital sea lines of communication (SLOCs) that facilitate 90% of India’s trade by volume, the Indian Navy has a monumental task in ensuring maritime security. Aircraft carriers, with their ability to project power far beyond India’s shores, are central to this mission.
“An aircraft carrier gives us the ability to dominate the seas, deter aggression, and respond swiftly to crises,” Admiral Tripathi explained. “It’s not just about warfighting—it’s about presence, influence, and the ability to shape outcomes in our favor, whether in peace or conflict.”
The Indian Navy currently operates two carriers: INS Vikramaditya, a refurbished Soviet-era ship inducted in 2013, and INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built carrier, commissioned in 2022. Together, these carriers provide the Navy with operational flexibility and a credible deterrence posture, particularly in the context of China’s growing naval presence in the IOR. The Navy has also proposed a third carrier, tentatively named INS Vishal, which would further enhance its blue-water capabilities.
Admiral Tripathi acknowledged that the nature of warfare has evolved, and the Indian Navy is adapting accordingly. He pointed to the integration of unmanned systems, advanced sensors, and network-centric warfare as ways to enhance the survivability and effectiveness of carriers. “We are not resting on past laurels. The aircraft carrier of today is not the same as it was 50 years ago—it’s a floating command center, capable of orchestrating multi-domain operations across air, surface, and subsurface environments,” he said.
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