karatecatman Guest
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Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject: Indian navy plans three aircraft carriers by 2017 |
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The Indian Navy plans to have three aircraft carriers at sea in the next decade, according to the defence minister as India expands its efforts to project military power beyond its shores.
The induction of the third aircraft carrier is envisaged by 2017, according to the Minister A. K. Antony said in a statement to Parliament on Wednesday.
India is currently building its first indigenous aircraft carrier, known as the Air Defence Ship, in Cochin. Also, a Russian aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov, is being refurbished for India.
India’s sole current aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat, formerly the British HMS Hermes, is scheduled for decommissioning in 2012.
The indigenous ship, a 41,340-ton vessel, is designed for use with Russian MiG-29 fighter aircraft and is expected to be delivered to the navy by 2012, according to a parliamentary committee on defense.
The Russian ship is expected in 2008.
Antony said a decision to construct a second locally made carrier could be made only after ‘‘the construction of the first aircraft carrier has progressed beyond a certain state.’’
The three aircraft carriers will be positioned in the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. |
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