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The first of the <keyword id="2573" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="air-india" source="Orion">Air India</keyword> aircraft with GE engines are expected to be service ready in 2023 itself, Vikram <keyword id="142" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rai" source="Orion">Rai</keyword> - Country Head, South Asia and Indonesia of GE Aerospace said on Thursday. Air <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, part of Tata group, had signed an order for 40 GE engines, plus a multi-year engine services agreement. "The first of the new aircraft will enter service in late-2023, with the bulk to arrive beginning mid-2025," Rai said in an exclusive interview with ANI. "Air India already has started taking delivery of 36 leased B777 and A320 aircraft to accelerate its fleet and network expansion." Terming Air India's engine order as a "big opportunity" for the jet engines and systems suppliers company, he said it reflects continued confidence in GE Aerospace technology --which has been powering Air India's carriers for more than 40 years. Earlier this month, Air India, in a historic deal, announced it will buy 250 aircraft from Airbus and has also selected Boeing for the purchase of up to 290 planes as part of its growth strategy. Air India was looking for a mix of aircraft to boost their domestic and international network through recent orders. Soon after the divestment of the airline, the airline indicated it was going for a historic order. "This order further deepens that relationship," Rai added. When asked how GE sees Indian aviation space becoming a key player in the coming years with multiple stakeholders or companies looking to expand its base, he said the majority of the aircraft that domestic carriers have on order right now is expected to be powered by engines from GE Aerospace and CFM (a joint venture between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines). "Approximately 1,100 of the 1,200 aircraft that are currently on order will be powered by GE or CFM." India is the third-largest civil aviation market and it has the potential to expand exponentially with an increasing number of flyers and the country's economic growth story. "There are currently more people in the middle class--around 440 million--than the entire population of the US. But India has only 700 commercial aircraft, compared to the US's over 5000 aircraft. The potential to grow the commercial aviation market is huge. We are happy to help local airlines and also partner with airframers to bring the best of our technology to this market," he said. In the same breath, he said India is not just a market for GE Aerospace as it is also where it innovates on aerospace technology at its engineering centre in Bengaluru, in partnership with industry and academia. "We also source engine parts from 13 Indian manufacturers and from our own factory in Pune for our global supply chain," Rai added. India aims to develop itself as a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub for defence equipment and systems. "GE helped set up Air India's MRO facility that includes GE90 testing capabilities in <keyword id="4072" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nagpur" source="Orion">Nagpur</keyword> in 2018-19. We are keen to help our partners set up service and maintenance capabilities locally," he told ANI. On a question posed what is GE's medium and long-term plan for Indian aviation space and also has been in touch with any other Indian carriers for similar deals, he, without getting into specifics, said, GE engages with various Indian carriers from time to time. "Other than this historic Air India order some of our notable previous orders for GE and our joint venture partner CFM includes: <keyword id="11911527" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="akasa-air" source="Orion">Akasa Air</keyword> with CFM for its LEAP-1B in 2021; IndiGo LEAP-1A order for 310 Airbus A320neo family aircraft in 2021; IndiGo for LEAP-1A to power 280 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft in 2019; Vistara order for GEnx-1B engines for six Boeing 787 aircraft in 2018," he added. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/oyo-plans-to-add-approximately-1800-premium-hotels-in-2023/articleshow/98180189.cms">OYO plans to double premium hotels in 2023 as biz travel surges</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/data-privacy-labels-for-most-top-apps-in-google-play-store-misleading-mozilla/articleshow/98181627.cms">Data privacy labels for most top apps in Google Play Store misleading: Mozilla</a>

First GE-made Air India aircraft to be service ready in 2023 itself

HAL delivers the first made-in-India Dornier 228 aircraft to Alliance Air

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Over $14.4 million worth of US-made aircraft parts illegally entered Russia in 2022.</li><li>One scheme involved two Russian nationals allegedly shipping Boeing and Airbus parts via places like Florida and China.</li></ul>Millions of dollars worth of aircraft parts entered Russia in 2022 despite Western sanctions preventing exports — suggesting the strategy isn't as bulletproof as governments had hoped.Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the US has worked with 40 countries to impose crippling sanctions against Russia as a way to paralyze its economy and punish President Vladimir Putin.The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/12-billion-worth-leased-aircraft-stranded-in-russia-ukraine-sanctions-2022-3">aviation sector was expected to take a big hit as Russian carriers</a> — including Rossiya Airlines, Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, S7 Airlines, Utair Aviation, and Pobeda Airlines — mostly fly Boeing and Airbus planes.The restrictions prevent Western planemakers from sending plane parts to Russia, forcing Russian operators to turn to seedier methods, including <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-airlines-may-not-have-enough-parts-repair-planes-sanctions-2022-3">"cannibalizing" their own aircraft</a> and buying from India and China.Despite the efforts, $14.4 million worth of US-made parts were smuggled into Russia in 2022, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/business/economy/russia-airlines-sanctions-ukraine.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">customs data obtained by The New York Times</a>. About $9 million worth were specifically Boeing parts, though the planemaker told the outlet that it has not done business with Russia since the sanctions.One of these illegal schemes was recently unveiled with the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-five-cases-part-recently-launched-disruptive-technology-strike">arrest of Russian business partners Oleg Patsulya and Vasilii Besedin in Arizona on Thursday</a>.The two were charged with money laundering and violating US export laws after allegedly helping Russia get much-needed parts for its airline fleets, which has been ongoing since August 2022.<a href="https://ecf.azd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/DktRpt.pl?1013036703265-L_1_0-1">According to a criminal complaint filed in the US District Court Friday</a>, the pair circumvented sanctions by purchasing parts from suppliers and re-selling them to Russian airlines for a profit — the money then spent to further the business, as well as purchase high-dollar items, like a 2023 BMW 740i luxury car which cost more than $130,000.The parts were shipped via countries such as Turkey, China, and the Maldives, though some were also delivered directly from the US and Europe, per the filing.Components bought and resold included everything from cheap bolts and nuts to an expensive Boeing 737 brake system sold to the Russian men for $70,000, according to the filing.Lawyers for both defendants did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.With the influx of parts, Russian carriers have been able to better maintain their fleets — a reality that was not initially anticipated by experts, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-01/russian-airlines-fly-airbus-boeing-jets-despite-sanctions">Bloomberg reported.</a>According to Cirium data collected by the outlet, Russian airlines are currently operating 467 Boeing and Airbus planes — down from 544 one year ago. Many of the aircraft were leased internationally, but Russia was able to maintain its grip by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-is-seizing-hundreds-of-lessor-planes-poses-risk-passengers-2022-3">refusing to return the jets after the imposed sanctions</a>. The Kremlin also encouraged its airlines to re-register the planes in Russia.However, airlines are still facing supply issues despite the black market deals. According to investigative Russian outlet Proekt, Russian flag carrier <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-airline-aeroflot-asked-employees-not-report-plane-malfunctions-report-2023-5">Aeroflot told its crew members not to report aircraft malfunctions</a> — meaning some planes are departing with equipment issues.Even so, Russian airlines have scheduled over 10,000 flights between Russia and Central Asia in May, per the NYT.Meanwhile, around 1,100 daily domestic flights are currently being operated by Russian carriers — representing a 15% decline since last year. According to Bloomberg, this is less than what governments expected after the sanctions."Clearly the sanctions didn't work as the West thought they would, and the global aviation industry is a lot leakier than anyone thought," Richard Aboulafia, managing director of aviation consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory, told Bloomberg. "Yes, safety will deteriorate the longer these sanctions go on, but it's clearly not going to bring connectivity within Russia and from Russia to a grinding halt."

Russian airlines have received millions of US-made aircraft parts since the invasion of Ukraine

India’s first indigenous <keyword id="42406" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="aircraft-carrier">aircraft carrier</keyword> <keyword id="312412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="INS-Vikrant">INS Vikrant</keyword> has begun its sea trials today and is set to be commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command by August 2022. This much-awaited maiden trial into the Arabian Sea will go on for four days. It started with 1,500 officials, including officers and sailors on board. This project is worth ₹24,000 crore (about $3.5 billion), originally targeted for commissioning in 2018, and was delayed due to the pandemic. The length of the ship is 262 m, while its beam is 62 m and has a depth of 25.6 m. It is the largest and most complex warship ever to be designed and built-in India. Vikrant is also known as the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1, or IAC-1. <div type="image" title="INS Vikrant" height="900" width="1200" msid="85035098" hostid="261"></div> India currently has one aircraft carrier, <keyword id="317546" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="INS-Vikramaditya">INS Vikramaditya</keyword>, inducted from Russia in 2013. Constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian <keyword id="42407" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Navy">Navy</keyword>, this became the first aircraft carrier to be built in the country. The basic trials were completed in December 2020. Vikrant will start to operate with approximately 24 Russian-built MiG-29K fighter jets <div type="image" title="INS Vikrant" height="900" width="1200" msid="85035195" hostid="261"></div> Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already said that Vikrant, expected to be commissioned into service next year, will add superior combat capability, range, and versatility to the Navy. He also added that this will be a tribute to 75 years of India’s Independence. A tweet from <keyword id="11789559" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="spokesperson-navy">Spokesperson navy</keyword> mentioned that this is a ‘Proud and Historical Day’ moment for India <div type="twitter" handle="indiannavy" handlename="SpokespersonNavy" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/871053127205625856/pGhIGmLN_normal.jpg" favoritecount="2158" retweetcount="618" status="Proud &amp; historic day for India as the reincarnated #Vikrant sails for her maiden sea trials today, in the 50th year… https://t.co/nhuh1t8G01" createdat="1628059013000" id="1422808740978364419"></div> Work on the ship's design began in 1999, and the keel was laid in February 2009. The carrier was floated out of its dry dock on December 29, 2011, and was launched on August 12, 2013. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/krsnaa-diagnostics-ipo-open-today-check-out-how-to-apply/articleshow/85017014.cms">Krsnaa Diagnostics IPO opens—here is all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/these-are-some-of-the-highest-paid-founders-of-indian-startups-tapping-capital-markets-this-year/slidelist/85005261.cms">These are some of the highest paid founders of Indian startups tapping capital markets this year</a>

INS Vikrant, the first made-in-India Aircraft Carrier worth nearly $3.5 billion is on for its maiden trial

<ul><li><keyword id="3820" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mukesh-ambani" source="Orion">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to diversify from a select few industries like oil, retail and telecom to software and beyond. </li><li>SankhyaSutra Labs, a subsidiary of <keyword id="9093411" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jio-Platforms" source="Orion">Jio Platforms</keyword>, showcased software for drone and aircraft design, pitting itself as an option as India liberalises its drone policies and doubles down on defence indigenisation. </li><li>Gautam Adani, too, has announced his foray by picking up a 50% stake in General Aeronautics, a drone maker. </li></ul>Mukesh Ambani has set his sights on the Indian government’s defence indigenisation efforts. After drones, Ambani Senior is looking to enter the critical space of aircraft design through a Bengaluru-based subsidiary, SankhyaSutra Labs. The Reliance subsidiary, under <keyword id="2003276" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jio" source="Orion">Jio</keyword> Platforms, showcased a Made in India software that can be used to design aircraft at the AeroCon 2022 — an aerospace conference organised by the Society of Automobile Engineering. The company said that it intends to launch a major product in October this year, but stopped short of specifying exactly what it would be about. SankhyaSutra’s focus seems to be on making it easier and cheaper to simulate aircraft designs. Simulation plays a significant role in all aircraft design, particularly in defence. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="91892935" title="These four drone company stocks gave record breaking returns in one year" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> “Accurate and reliable simulations can potentially reduce the need for expensive and time-consuming experiments, such as wind tunnel experiments, used for the design of aircraft,” said Dr. Vinay Kariwala, vice president of business development and SankhyaSutra Labs. “This opens up several possibilities by making aircraft design faster and cheaper, as well as allowing exploration of unconventional and radically new design alternatives,” he added. The company said it uses a combination of physics, mathematics and computer science for its designing tools. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Ambani joins Adani in capitalising on India’s drone needs" comment="subhead" text="Ambani joins Adani in capitalising on India’s drone needs">Ambani joins Adani in capitalising on India’s drone needs</cmsannotation> Last week, SankhyaSutra also showcased its products and solutions for drones at the Drone Festival of India 2022, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present. India liberalised its drone policies and lifted restrictions on drone usage and expanded it from just defence to other sectors like — agriculture, tourism, healthcare and more. The potential of drones has caught the fancy of both Ambani and Gautam Adani - two of India’s richest men. The Adani Group recently picked up a 50% stake in a drone company called General Aeronautics. Drone company stocks have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/these-four-drone-company-stocks-gave-record-breaking-returns-in-one-year/articleshow/91892935.cms">delivered record returns</a> of up to 160%. All the four listed entities – Paras Defence, Zen Technologies, RattanIndia Enterprises, and Bharat Electronics had gained momentum. It remains to be seen if Gautam Adani will follow Mukesh Ambani in launching a dedicated defence vertical as India doubles down on achieving Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/these-four-drone-company-stocks-gave-record-breaking-returns-in-one-year/articleshow/91892935.cms">These four drone company stocks gave record breaking returns in one year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/ambani-and-adani-together-borrowed-more-than-1-out-of-every-5-from-foreign-lenders/articleshow/91909834.cms">Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani account for $1 out of every $5 of foreign loans</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/rakesh-jhunjhunwalas-delta-corp-stock-lost-more-than-a-third-of-its-value-in-two-months/articleshow/91957129.cms">Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s gamble on this stock is proving to be a bust after it slips 20% in a month</a>

Mukesh Ambani sets sights on defence – showcases Made in India software for aircraft design

New Delhi, <keyword id="175577" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="commercial-pilot-license" source="Orion">Commercial pilot license</keyword>s will now be valid for ten years, with the government amending rules as part of efforts to further improve ease of doing business in the aviation sector. Till now, the validity of Commercial Pilot License (CPL) was for five years and after completion of that period, it had to be renewed. The civil aviation ministry amended the Aircraft Rules, 1937. Among various changes made, the validity of licenses in relation to Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) and CPL holders has been increased from five years to ten years. "This change is expected to reduce administrative burden on pilots and aviation authorities like DGCA, promoting a more streamlined and efficient licensing process," the ministry said in a statement on Monday. Besides, rules have been amended to address concerns related to the display of lights in the vicinity of an aerodrome. It has also been clarified that the term 'light' encompasses lantern lights, wish kites, and laser lights. Also, the government's jurisdiction over those exhibiting such lights has been extended from 5 kilometres to 5 nautical miles around an aerodrome. "It is made explicit that the government possesses the authority to take action against individuals displaying lights that disrupt the safe operation of aircraft or pose hazards to the operating crew. "Should such lights remain unattended for 24 hours, the government is empowered to enter the location and extinguish them," the ministry said. Simultaneously, the matter should be reported to the relevant police station for legal action under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). When the source of the observed light is unidentifiable or if it shifts locations, the airport or airline operator is obligated to promptly report the incident to the local police station, initiating potential criminal proceedings. Another amendment is that the requirement for validation of foreign licenses has been removed. "This change signifies aligning the regulations with the evolving needs of the aviation sector," the ministry said. Further, the requirements related to continued competence for <keyword id="6414849" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="air-traffic-controller" source="Orion">Air Traffic Controller</keyword> (ATC) license holders have been liberalised. According to the ministry, this change offers increased flexibility to accommodate situations with limited movements or watch hours. ATC license holders must complete a minimum of ten hours of simulated exercises, including emergencies. Subsequently, they must undergo a skill assessment for their respective rating within ten consecutive days of commencing these exercises, it said. The ministry said the amendments to the Aircraft Rules, 1937, notified on October 10, mark a crucial shift in promoting ease of doing business and ensuring safety and security within the aviation sector. India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. Airlines are expanding their aircraft fleet and will be hiring more pilots to cater to rising air traffic demand.

Govt amends aircraft rules; commercial pilot licenses to be valid for 10 years

List of weapons that India can make at home — and the ones it cannot

The <keyword id="22186137" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-transport-security-body" source="keywords">US transport security body</keyword> has sought a unique "one-stop agreement" with <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> to end the rescreening of <keyword id="19915258" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="passengers" source="keywords">passengers</keyword>, asserting that the "really powerful" concept will raise global <keyword id="20051539" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aviation" source="keywords">aviation</keyword> <keyword id="19900703" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="security" source="keywords">security</keyword> standards. Addressing the India US Aviation Summit here on Tuesday, David Pekoske, Administrator of the US Transportation Security Administration (USTSA) said that the one-stop security concept is "very reachable" between the countries. "I think very tangible and very reachable between India and the United States is one-stop security," he said. "It's a concept that expedites the flow of passengers and baggage to their destinations by eliminating the duplication of security controls at transfer points," Pekoske said. He said in the case of a one-stop agreement, passengers who reach an airport in another country and have a connecting domestic flight would not need to be rescreened and their checked bags would go from aircraft to aircraft. Terming it a "really powerful" concept, Pekoske said it raises global aviation security standards. "Flights inbound to the United States are more secure. If there's a reverse agreement between the United States and India where US screening satisfies Indian requirements, that means that flights to India would also be more secure. It does require the regular exchange of information," he said. "It requires improvements to security processes to maintain the agreement. It yields a reduction in security costs through better allocation of resources, reduces flight connection times and missed connections, and improves the passenger experience," he said. Pekoske said the two countries should consider signing a memorandum of agreement to share sensitive security information. "We have a category of classification of information that is not classified in the true sense of classified material, but it is sensitive enough that it needs additional protections," he said. He said that whenever there is a sharing of sensitive security information -- which is critical to a growing partnership -- there is a need to have a memorandum of agreement which covers the aspects of that sharing arrangement. He noted that both the TSA and India's transportation security posture were born of cruel tragedy. For India, it was the bombing of Air India 'Kanishka' Flight 182 in 1985, while for the TSA, it was the 9-11 attacks in 2001. "These tragic events were paradigm shifts in how we both thought about transportation security that continues today," he said. Meanwhile, addressing the summit, US Federal Aviation Administrator Michael Whitaker said that India and the United States need to work together on issues like aviation safety. Asserting that safety is a team sport, he said that sharing data between the two countries can allow better identification and mitigation of risks in the sector. "Our (US and India's) national systems of aviation are inextricably linked into a single global network," he said, adding that the two counties have adjoining air spaces, integrated supply chains, and international services that connect their economies and people. "We need to work together on issues like safety, we need to share ideas and share innovations, especially in how to safely incorporate some of these new technologies into our airspace," he said. Noting that the two countries have different systems that will take different approaches to solving challenges, he said, "We can and should work together to share best practices and learn from one another." "We all have an interest in increasing safety within our respective countries, but we must work together to increase the level of safety in the global aviation system," he added. "This means sharing data. Sharing information allows us to better identify and mitigate risks before those risks become accidents and even before they become failures to the safety layers in our system," he added. "When I started in aviation, accidents were unfortunately not uncommon. They were almost annual events, and safety regulators learned from those accidents and made the system safer," he said. "For the past couple of decades, we've moved beyond that model, and accidents are now extremely rare, and they are simply unacceptable as an outcome," Whitaker said. "Our challenge is to bring safety to the next level, and that means we need to proactively analyse data and find those risks of failure and mitigate those risks before they happen," he said. Asserting that all the job categories in the aviation sector are highly sought after, he said that "for regulators, it means new questions about how we oversee those operations". "We have to find a safe yet nimble way to regulate these new entrants who are operating at the speed of a startup while we are operating at the speed of government, he said. He added that there is a need to figure out how to close the gap, identify these risks and leverage technology to incorporate them safely into the airspace. "In the US, we've seen the public perception of safety and risk in the system evolve over time. As more people have access to aviation, the expectation grows that the system will be completely safe," he asserted. 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US transport security body seeks one-stop pact with India to end rescreening of passengers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"We will not stop at that (three carriers)," India's defense minister recently said.</li><li>Five or six aircraft carriers would give India a force equal to that of China.</li></ul>India may build a fleet of five to six new aircraft carriers, according to a comment from the country's defense minister that's been widely debated about whether that's a good strategy or if the offhand remark was even serious.The Indian Navy operates two small aircraft carriers. Four more would give India a carrier force on par with China's growing one. And it would not be much smaller — at least in number of vessels — than the US Navy's 11 supercarriers.But whether this ambitious shipbuilding project will happen is another matter. Many Indian experts are convinced it's a bad idea.Exactly what the Indian government is thinking isn't clear. During an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/work-on-third-aircraft-carrier-to-start-soon-more-to-follow-says-rajnath-621319">interview</a> with an Indian newspaper regarding plans to construct a third aircraft carrier, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said India would build yet more. "We will not stop at that (three carriers)," he said. "We will make five, six more."Some Indian experts aren't sure the government is even serious about this. The defense minister "seemingly made an off-the-cuff remark that was picked up by the media," Abhijit Singh, a former Indian naval officer and now an analyst at the Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi, told Business Insider. "He was only trying to dispel suggestions that the government is resistant to a proposal for a third aircraft carrier."Nonetheless, there are compelling reasons why India might want a large carrier fleet. India's rival China now has three carriers, including the newly launched 80,000-ton <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-newest-aircraft-carrier-seen-with-aircraft-mock-ups-images-2024-4">Fujian</a>, and may aim for a fleet of six carriers by 2035. China — which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-troops-beat-indian-soldiers-batons-wrapped-in-barbed-wire-2020-6">fought</a> border clashes with India in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/after-himalayan-clash-india-prepares-navy-to-take-on-china-2021-6">Himalayas</a> in 2020 — is beginning to project its power into the <a target="_blank" href="https://warontherocks.com/2024/05/its-still-the-indian-ocean-parsing-sino-indian-naval-competition-where-it-counts/">Indian Ocean</a>, which is India's maritime backyard."It is expected that the Chinese will permanently station one of its CBGs [carrier battle groups] in the Indian Ocean, supported by its various bases in Djibouti (on the western edge of the Indian Ocean), <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rapid-construction-at-cambodia-base-amid-concern-about-china-presence-2021-6">Ream in Cambodia</a> (on the eastern edge of the Indian Ocean), and Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar," warned India's <a target="_blank" href="https://swarajyamag.com/defence/countering-chinas-expansion-india-to-build-five-to-six-more-aircraft-carriers-in-future-defence-minister-rajnath-singh">Swarajya</a> magazine.Interestingly, Swarajya magazine also suggested that carriers could project Indian power into the South China Sea, which is China's maritime backyard. Indian warships have periodically sailed in those waters.<div type="image" title="A view from the sloped bow of the INS Vikrant that carries MiG-29K fighter jets." height="1333" width="2000" msid="110619274" hostid="261" sizebytes="239670"></div>India has two carriers of around 45,000 tons each: the Vikramaditya (a refurbished former Soviet vessel) and the Vikrant, India's first home-built carrier. Both are <a target="_blank" href="https://interestingengineering.com/lists/ski-jumps-catapults-aircraft-carrier">ski-jump</a> designs that launch the troubled Soviet-era MiG-29K under its own power because it lacks catapults. Despite early speculation that the proposed third carrier would be a 65,000-ton ski-jump design similar to Britain's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uks-flagship-carrier-embarrassing-setback-pulls-out-big-nato-exercise-2024-2">Queen Elizabeth-class</a>, the Indian government appears to be opting for a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsweek.com/india-third-aircraft-carrier-china-indian-pacific-ocean-region-1847935">45,000-ton vessel</a> similar to the Vikrant, and carrying French-made <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/frances-rafale-fighter-jet-popular-dassault-cant-keep-up-2024-3">Rafale fighters</a>.This means that Indian carriers would continue to be less than half the size of the 100,000-ton, nuclear-powered US Nimitz- and Ford-class behemoths, which are equipped with steam or electromagnetic catapults that can launch heavier planes, especially airborne early warning aircraft; China's Fujian also uses an advanced electromagnetic catapult. They would also be less expensive, with the third Indian carrier estimated at around $5 billion, compared to $13 billion for a Ford-class carrier.In fact, some Indian naval experts would prefer a larger carrier equipped with catapults. "Small aircraft carriers, like those India possesses, are increasingly vulnerable and unlikely to play a significant role in future conflicts," Singh, the defense analyst, said. "Unfortunately, the country lacks the funding for a large carrier and can only afford another small flattop. This presents a predicament with no easy solutions."On the other hand, there is a reason why America builds enormously expensive aircraft carriers. Its global interests arguably require the ability to dispatch and maintain floating airfields around the world, often in distant places where airbases aren't available. For India and China, which have a more regional focus, smaller vessels may suffice.For India, carriers are more than floating airfields. They are symbols of national power. Thus regardless of their military utility against a powerful adversary like China, carriers would enable India support other operations, such as humanitarian, peacekeeping and anti-piracy missions."The consensus among India's maritime observers is that the aircraft carrier remains central to maritime strategy, not just for its ability to dominate the littoral but also for its crucial peacetime role," said Abhijit Singh. "In less-than-war situations, the flattop can shift the psychological balance in ways no other naval platform can. Despite its drawbacks, the aircraft carrier's aura and impact in peacetime operations are unmatched."Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

A bizarre comment stirred speculation India may try to match China's carrier fleet 

<ul><li>The 33-year-old <keyword id="2965693" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kanika-tekriwal" source="Orion">Kanika Tekriwal</keyword> earned her a fortune of ₹420 crore and was named as the <keyword id="14687474" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="youngest-self-made-richest-woman" source="Orion">youngest self-made richest woman</keyword> in the Kotak Hurun report list.</li><li>Initially, she too went through the rigours of starting a business as a woman.</li><li><keyword id="69127" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tekriwal" source="Orion">Tekriwal</keyword> hails from an orthodox Marwari family where girls are often discouraged from working.</li></ul>Kanika Tekriwal from Bhopal has come a long way from being mistaken for a cabin crew to becoming one of <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>’s richest female startup entrepreneurs. Her idea of offering a cloud-based solution for those who want to ‘hire’ private jets, <keyword id="2963934" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jetsetgo" source="Orion">JetSetGo</keyword> is now considered a million dollar idea. The company which is popularly known as the ‘Uber of Indian skies’ earned her a fortune of ₹420 crore, as per the Kotak Private Banking Hurun Leading Wealthy Women 2021 list. The 33-year-old is also the youngest in the list, with i-banker turned entrepreneur <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/nykaas-falguni-nayar-takes-over-kiran-mazum[%E2%80%A6]e-richest-self-made-indian-woman/articleshow/93158649.cms">Falguni Nayyar</a> on the top. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="‘Miss, can you ask them for tea/coffee?’" comment="subhead" text="‘Miss, can you ask them for tea/coffee?’">‘Miss, can you ask them for tea/coffee?’</cmsannotation> Today, she is also noted amongst startup founders who made it in a male dominated world. Her online air charter service is hailed by celebrities, film stars and HNIs not just for private jets but also for helicopters and air ambulances. Initially, she too went through the rigours of starting a business as a woman. “I remember walking into a customer’s office to whom we went to pitch, I had just started my company and I was the last person to walk into the conference room. A guy turned to me and said, Miss, can you ask everyone what they want tea or coffee? and all my confidence fell on the floor immediately as I was very young. It was my first pitch ever and I wanted to cry,” Tekriwal told Business Insider India in an interview. In the earlier days of the business, when she used to hang out at airports, she was frequently mistaken for the cabin crew. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The Marwari girl ‘discouraged to work’" comment="subhead" text="The Marwari girl ‘discouraged to work’">The Marwari girl ‘discouraged to work’</cmsannotation> Tekriwal hails from an orthodox Marwari family where girls are often discouraged from working. However, she always wanted to become a pilot, and that along with her time in the UK inspired her to start her own business. The idea to start her company, JetSetGo, came from the thought of private flying as more accessible and economical for people. Before her startup, it was a long, cumbersome process where people lost money and faced many hiccups. Her company, however, turned this process online, transparent and allowed people to ‘share’ rides. “The idea came out of the combination of prior experiences and learning where I saw what was happening in the UK and in India, and there is a big gap that needs to be fulfilled and I went about it,” Tekriwal said. The first roadblock to doing business in the air was registration. “When I wanted to register the company, the people in the registrar office didn’t want to give me the certificate of incorporation simply because it had the word ‘aviation’ in it and asked me to go and get DGCA approval. Why would DGCA give me an approval for a company? I wanted to do trading,” she highlighted. Then came another difficult period in her young life when she was diagnosed with cancer. “I had the idea brewing in my head for close to three years or so, but when I took out my sketch board and started working on it, I was diagnosed with cancer, which set me back by a year,” said Tekriwal. After she became cancer-free in 2012, she kickstarted the business with her friend, <keyword id="2963933" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sudheer-perla" source="Orion">Sudheer Perla</keyword>, starting with air taxi services that provide intra-city connectivity. After ten years, she owns ten private jets after seven last year. She plans to add at least eight more aircrafts in the next three years. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lockdown and beyond" comment="subhead" text="Lockdown and beyond">Lockdown and beyond</cmsannotation> The company also overcame tough times during the three months of the first lockdown. But it decided not to lay off staff or cut down salaries. “I used to actually wake up sweating on most days wondering till when we will be able to sustain this,” Tekriwal added. However, now that’s in the past, the aviation sector has become one of the busiest in the last few months, thanks to years of pent up demand. During the time, the company added another interesting set of jet-setting travellers – startup founder, says Tekriwal, who was amazed at the trend. Also, those who want to splurge on a private jet for leisure trips too has doubled since January 2020. “When the Maldives opened in December last year, everyone was running there on private jets. Now it's Dubai. In India, Goa, Rajasthan, and Kerala are the top leisure destinations,” she added. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-langya-henipavirus-reported-in-china/articleshow/93480292.cms">All you need to know about the new Langya Henipavirus reported in China</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/most-luxury-home-sales-came-from-mumbai-and-its-suburb-thane-leads-in-affordable-homes/articleshow/93479211.cms">Most luxury home sales came from Mumbai, and its suburb Thane leads in affordable homes</a>

A startup founder was asked to do a coffee run on her first pitch, now she's among India's richest women

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia's sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, has been out of action for years for repairs.</li><li>Russia's navy and its Soviet predecessor both struggled to keep their aircraft carriers operational.</li></ul>In July, Russian state media <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-sole-aircraft-carrier-may-re-enter-service-by-2024-end-tass-2023-07-04/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Russia's sole aircraft carrier, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-navy-struggles-with-kuznetsov-aircraft-carrier-kirov-battlecruisers-2023-5" target="_top">Admiral Kuznetsov</a>, could return to active service by the end of 2024.Kuznetsov has been undergoing repairs since 2017, and its return to duty has been delayed repeatedly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-aircraft-carrier-admiral-kuznetsov-delayed-again-2022-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">by mishaps and malfunctions</a>.The carrier has done only one combat deployment in its nearly 30-year career, and its return would be a milestone, but even if the Kuznetsov passes its planned sea trials, equipping the ship with a fully functioning air wing will probably remain a significant task for Russia.Despite <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soviet-union-aircraft-carriers-are-still-influencing-other-navies-2020-12" target="_top">operating aircraft-carrying ships</a> for more than a half-century, Russia has struggled to build effective fixed-wing jets for those ships to carry into action.<h2>Yakovlev Yak-38</h2><div type="image" title="Russian Soviet navy Yak-38 aircraft carrier" height="1211" width="2000" msid="105245820" hostid="261"></div>The dawn of the jet age after World War II <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-us-navy-aircraft-carriers-supercarriers-to-ford-class-2020-10" target="_top">ushered in advances in carrier aviation</a> as well.The Soviets had seen the advantages in the vertical/short-takeoff-and-landing design, or V/STOL, used by Britain's <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/hawker-siddeley-xv-6a-kestrel-fga-mk-1/nasm_A19740943000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hawker Siddeley Kestrel</a> — the precursor to the now-renown Harrier "jump jet" — in the 1960s and opted to use that design for their first carrier jets.The result, the <a href="https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yak-38</a>, was introduced in 1976 — three years before the British navy's <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/aircraft/bae_sea_harrier.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sea Harrier</a> entered service — as the Soviet Union's first fixed-wing aircraft for its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soviet-union-aircraft-carriers-are-still-influencing-other-navies-2020-12" target="_top">first true aircraft carriers, the Kiev-class</a>.The Yak-38 had two lift jets behind the cockpit and a single vectored-thrust turbofan engine with two adjustable nozzles that could be pointed downward for vertical flight. Its stub wings, which could be folded to save space, had four hardpoints, enabling the jet to carry about 2,000 pounds of ordnance.A total of 231 Yak-38s were eventually built. Despite its novelty, however, the jet was mostly a failure.<div type="image" title="Russian Soviet navy Yak-38 aircraft carrier" height="1574" width="2000" msid="105245821" hostid="261"></div>It was prone to mechanical issues, especially in hot and humid environments. By the end of Kiev's first cruise in 1976, for instance, only one of its six Yak-38s was still operational. The jet also had trouble with its automatic ejection system, which was activated by accident on multiple occasions and wrecked the jets.The Yak-38 had many other shortcomings. Its range, payload, and speed were less than that of rival militaries' aircraft. Even the updated Yak-36M, with a longer range and double the payload, was underpowered compared with NATO carrier aircraft.The inefficiency of the Yak-38's lift engines meant the jet rarely took off vertically, as it consumed too much fuel and limited the jet's already small payload. The Yak-38 didn't have its own radar, meaning its pilot was reliant on visual sightings or on other Soviet forces for guidance. The jet could carry Kh-23 anti-ship missiles, but since it was a single-seater, the pilot would have to fly the jet and guide the missile at the same time.The Yak-38 only saw combat in landlocked Afghanistan. At least four Yak-38s operated alongside other Soviet jets from a base in the country's southwest in 1980. While it conducted several airstrikes during its monthlong deployment, the jet still struggled with the heat and dust, and its performance was not particularly noteworthy.Soviet leaders decided against further upgrades and retired the Yak-38 shortly after the Soviet collapse in 1991.<h2>Su-33</h2><div type="image" title="Russia Su-33 fighter takeoff Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier" height="1288" width="2000" msid="105245822" hostid="261"></div>Even as the first Kiev-class carriers and Yak-38s began to enter service in the mid-1970s, the Soviets were planning their replacements. By that time, the Soviet military's thinking about the value of sea control and naval air dominance had changed, and its commanders saw that V/STOL jets and the Yak-38, in particular, had limited utility for either.The Soviets sought a larger carrier and a jet capable of conventional takeoffs and landings — like those of the major NATO powers — to provide greater range and payload and more reliability in dogfights. The result was the <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/navy/kuznetsov_class.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuznetsov-class carrier</a> and the <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/aircraft/su_33.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Su-33</a>.The Su-33 was effectively a naval variant of the <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/aircraft/sukhoi_su27_flanker.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Su-27</a> air-superiority fighter with several differences, including a reinforced undercarriage and landing gear for carrier landings, forward canards to reduce takeoff distance, a larger wing area for extra lift, foldable wings, and more powerful engines.<div type="image" title="Russia Su-33 fighter landing on Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier" height="1280" width="2000" msid="105245824" hostid="261"></div>The new jet had a top speed of more than 1,400 mph and a range of more than 2,000 miles, along with a 30mm cannon and 12 hardpoints that could carry 14,000 pounds of ordnance.Despite the jet's improvements over the Yak-38, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-plans-for-su33-as-carrier-based-fighter-fell-apart-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it was also of limited effectiveness</a>. Because the jet was exceptionally large, the Kuznetsov, which was smaller than US carriers, couldn't carry many of them. The jet's size also made it difficult to move around on the carrier. The Su-33 was also meant to be capable of ground-attack missions, but its takeoff weight, and thus the weaponry it could carry, were limited by Kuznetsov's ski-jump ramp.The Su-33 didn't enter service until after the Cold War, and only about 22 were built. Three have been lost in crashes, and only 17 are believed to still be in service today.<h2>MiG-29K</h2><div type="image" title="MiG 29K aircraft INS Vikramaditya indian navy aircraft carrier" height="586" width="1000" msid="105245825" hostid="261"></div>While the Sukhoi design firm was working on the Su-33 in the 1980s, the Mikoyan Design Bureau was working on its own carrier aircraft, the MiG-29K, a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/combat-jets-russia-and-ukraine-are-using-in-ukraine-war-2022-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">naval variant of the MiG-29</a>.Work on the MiG-29K was halted in 1991 when the Russian navy selected the Su-33 for its carriers, but the project was revived in 2004 for the Indian navy, which was <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/all-reasons-why-india-hates-aircraft-carrier-it-bought-russia-92076" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquiring</a> the Kiev-class carrier Admiral Gorhskov from Russia and wanted the jet for the carrier's air wing.With a top speed of about 1,300 mph and the ability to carry 9,900 pounds of ordnance, the MiG-29K was better suited for ground strikes than the Su-33. India also chose the MiG-29K because its air force already operated the MiG-29 and was familiar with the airframe.<div type="image" title="Indian navy MiG-29 fighter jet aircraft carrier INS Vikrant" height="1331" width="2000" msid="105245826" hostid="261"></div>New Delhi placed two orders, in 2004 and 2010, for 45 aircraft and related equipment for $2.2 billion. Its first MiG-29Ks were delivered in 2009, and the first squadron became operational in 2013. The MiG-29K also underperformed, however.A 2016 <a href="https://cag.gov.in/webroot/uploads/download_audit_report/2016/Union_Defence_Services_Navy_and_Coast_Guard_Report_No_17_of_2016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from India's Comptroller and Auditor General said that between 2009 and 2015, the MiG-29Ks that had been delivered were only available for service between 15.93% and 47.14% of the time. In addition to issues with the jet's airframe and avionics, the report said 62% of the engines delivered by Russia had been withdrawn from service or were rejected because of defects and deficiencies.At least five of the Indian navy's MiG-29Ks were lost in <a href="https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indian-navy-reports-crash-of-fifth-mig-29k-in-four-years#:~:text=Of%20the%20five%20MiG%2D29K,during%20the%20last%2010%20years.&amp;text=in%2Dfour%2Dyears-,An%20Indian%20Navy%20Mikoyan%2DGurevich%20MiG%2D29K%20crashed%20in%20the,Arabian%20Sea%20on%2012%20October." target="_blank" rel="noopener">crashes</a> between 2018 and 2022 — a far higher rate than for the Indian air force's MiG-29s. The problems were compounded by the fact that India was wholly reliant on Russia for major support issues, as Moscow refused to transfer jet-engine technology or allow India to build its own MiG-29Ks.The Indian navy <a href="https://www.defense-aerospace.com/india-says-mig-29-serviceability-issues-now-solved-admiral/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in 2018 that all serviceability issues had been resolved. It even <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2020/07/24/india-gets-desperate-for-mountain-fighters-sends-navy-migs-north/?sh=746a6d3878b9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployed</a> some MiG-29Ks to the Sino-Indian border at the height of tensions between the countries in 2020. But Delhi appears ready to move on to other jets.<div type="image" title="Russia aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov" height="1288" width="2000" msid="105245827" hostid="261"></div>Despite designing the country's first domestically built <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-jet-landing-on-vikrant-reflect-indian-aircraft-carrier-ambitions-2023-2" target="_top">aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant</a>, around the Russian-made jet, India has opted to retire all its MiG-29Ks by 2035 rather than extend their service lives or buy more. India's navy says it instead <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/india/indian-navy-to-replace-mig-29k-fleet-after-2035-due-to-quality-concerns-12439122.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plans</a> to buy <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-communicates-to-france-decision-to-procure-26-rafale-marine-jets/article67468034.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">26</a> French-built Rafale-M jets, which will require redesigning Vikrant's aircraft elevator, and eventually use a <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/twin-engine-carrier-based-fighter-for-navy-could-be-inducted-by-2031-32/article66124792.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">domestically developed</a> carrier-based jet.After the MiG-29K program was restarted for India, Russia's navy ordered 25 of the jets in 2009 to be used aboard Kuznetsov. The fighter made its combat debut in 2016, flying from the carrier during a deployment to Syria.Neither the jet nor the ship emerged unscathed. In one incident, a MiG-29K broke the carrier's arresting cable during landing. As the crew cleared debris from the deck, another MiG-29K circling overhead crashed into the sea after its engines unexpectedly shut off.Russia had planned to replace its Su-33s with MiG-29Ks but later decided that the MiGs would supplement its Su-33 fleet instead. Since Kuznetsov began its refit in early 2017, however, no jet has flown from the ship.

Aircraft carriers aren't the Russian navy's only problem. It has also struggled for decades to build jets for them.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two fighter jets landed on and took off from India's new aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, this month.</li><li>The jets that landed on Vikrant may not be the jets that India uses on its carriers in the future.</li></ul>On February 6, the Indian Navy <a href="https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/maiden-landing-lca-navy-and-mig-29k-fighter-aircraft-onboard-ins-vikrant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that fixed-wing aircraft had successfully landed on and taken off from India's first domestically built aircraft carrier, <a href="https://www.naval-technology.com/features/ins-vikrant-a-profile-of-indias-newest-aircraft-carrier/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">INS Vikrant</a>.The jets involved were the naval variant of the Indian-made <a href="https://www.hotcars.com/underrated-hal-tejas-elevates-indian-air-force/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tejas</a> fighter, referred to as "LCA Navy" for "Light Combat Aircraft Navy" in the <a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1622585639664484352" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a>, followed by a Russian-designed <a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1622594390945587201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1622594390945587201%7Ctwgr%5Ef439a694d93f6794ba5cd34d33c25d14cb5d70bf%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aviacionline.com%2F2023%2F02%2Fnaval-tejas-and-mig-29k-tested-aboard-ins-vikrant-indias-new-aircraft-carrier%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MiG-29K</a>. Each jet landed using the carrier's arresting cable and then launched from the carrier's ski-jump ramp.The operations were the latest milestone in New Delhi's "Atmanirbhar Bharat," or "self-reliant India," initiative, which is meant to increase domestic production of military hardware.Adm. R. Hari Kumar, India's Chief of Naval Staff, said in a statement that the operations marked "a momentous step forward towards the realization of our collective vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat" and heralded the integration of the MiG-29K into the carrier's inventory.Vikrant's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-new-chinese-and-indian-aircraft-carriers-compare-2022-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduction</a> and its first jet operations come at an important time for the Indian Navy, which is seeking to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/after-himalayan-clash-india-prepares-navy-to-take-on-china-2021-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increase its strength</a> to counter the growing threat from China.<h2>Indian carriers</h2><div type="image" title="India navy aircraft carrier INS Vikrant Tejas fighter jet" height="559" width="840" msid="98192314" hostid="261"></div>Though Vikrant is India's first domestically built carrier, it is actually <a href="https://pib.gov.in/FeaturesDeatils.aspx?NoteId=151135&amp;ModuleId%20=%202" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the fourth</a> to enter service with the Indian Navy. The first two, INS Vikrant (namesake of the current Vikrant) and INS Viraat, were both former British carriers in service with India from 1961 to 1997 and 1987 to 2017, respectively.The third carrier, <a href="https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/ins-vikramaditya-aircraft-carrier/#:~:text=The%20ship%20also%20employs%20six,to%2045%20days%20at%20sea." target="_blank" rel="noopener">INS Vikramaditya</a>, is a modified Kiev-class carrier India <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/india-wont-even-think-about-buying-russian-aircraft-carrier-again-196265" target="_blank" rel="noopener">purchased</a> from Russia in 2004. Commissioned in 2013, Vikramaditya brought with it the <a href="https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/mig-29k-carrier-based-multirole-fighter-aircraft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MiG-29K</a>, the carrier version of the famed MiG-29 fighter jet. The Indian Navy previously used the venerable <a href="http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/bae_sea_harrier.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sea Harrier</a>.At about 930 feet long, Vikramaditya displaces about 44,000 tons and can carry 36 aircraft, mainly MiG-29Ks and a combination of <a href="http://www.military-today.com/helicopters/kamov_ka31.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ka-31</a>, <a href="https://weaponsystems.net/system/1288-Kamov%20Ka-27PL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ka-28</a>, and <a href="http://www.military-today.com/helicopters/dhruv.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HAL Dhruv</a> helicopters. It has a crew of 1,600, a top speed of 28 knots, and a range of about 7,000 nautical miles.Vikrant, meanwhile, measures about 860 feet in length, displaces around 43,000 tons, and can carry 30 aircraft. It has a crew of 1,500, a top speed of 28 knots, and a range of 7,500 nautical miles.<div type="image" title="India navy aircraft carrier INS Vikrant MiG-29K fighter jet" height="559" width="840" msid="98192315" hostid="261"></div>Both carriers use a short takeoff but arrested recovery, or STOBAR, system that launches aircraft off a ski-jump ramp rather than from deck-mounted catapults.INS Vikrant is expected to be ready for operations by the end of this year and INS Vikramaditya is expected to return this spring after an extensive 15-month refit. The newer carrier <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/aircraft-carrier-ins-vikramaditya-is-back-on-high-seas-101676775908275.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will reportedly</a> be based on India's East Coast and the older carrier on the West Coast.India's carriers have been extremely valuable for projecting power in the Indian Ocean, where New Delhi has long regarded itself as the most influential actor.Vikrant aided the annexation of Goa from Portugal in 1961 by deterring foreign intervention and was vital to the naval blockade of Bangladesh (then called East Pakistan) during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. Viraat supported India's peacekeeping efforts in Sri Lanka and <a href="https://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/041219/operation-talwar-how-the-navy-silently-contributed-to-kargil-win.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened to blockade</a> Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War.<div type="image" title="INS Vikramaditya" height="826" width="1240" msid="98192319" hostid="261"></div>In recent years, Indian concerns have focused on China's increasing presence and activity in the Indian Ocean. China has deployed surface ships to conduct anti-piracy <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-navy-growth-and-search-for-overseas-bases-worries-us-2022-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrols off the Horn of Africa</a> since 2008, and a Chinese submarine visit to Sri Lanka in 2014 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-china-border-clashes-could-cause-more-indian-ocean-activity-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised alarm in India</a>.Since then, Beijing has set up <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-chinese-troops-coexist-and-cooperate-in-djibouti-general-says-2022-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a naval base in Djibouti</a> and pursued port projects — which are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-worried-about-chinese-activity-near-maritime-chokepoints-2022-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seen as avenues to advance</a> Chinese economic, diplomatic, and potentially military influence — around the region, including a 99-year lease in Hambantota, a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indias-concern-with-beijing-expansion-grows-with-sri-lanka-port-deal-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strategically located port</a> in southern Sri Lanka where India has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-military-survey-ship-docks-sri-lanka-port-2022-08-16/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">longstanding concern</a> about Chinese military activity. A <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-military-survey-ship-docks-sri-lanka-port-2022-08-16/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">port call</a> in Hambantota last year by a Chinese tracking vessel raised alarm in India about spying missions off its coasts.By adding carriers — Indian officials are already <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-navy-plans-for-another-vikrant-size-carrier-before-vikramaditya-retires/article66529445.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considering</a> buying another Vikrant-size carrier — India's navy can keep them at sea off of both its coasts and around the region in order to monitor activity and potential threats from China's navy, the largest in the world.More carriers would also help India maintain its naval advantage over its longtime rival, Pakistan.<h2>Indian jets</h2><div type="image" title="India navy aircraft carrier INS Vikrant Tejas fighter jet" height="364" width="840" msid="98192320" hostid="261"></div>Though the Tejas and MiG-29K are the first jets India has operated on Vikrant's deck, they are not jets that India plans to use in the carrier's air wing in the future.In 2016, the Indian Navy <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/navy-rejects-tejas-says-overweight-fighter-does-not-meet-its-requirements/articleshow/55756350.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> the naval variant of the Tejas because its single-engine design gives it a low thrust-to-weight ratio, making it unable to launch from a STOBAR carrier with a full load of fuel and weapons. The jet is only being used as a technology demonstrator to inform future operations and development.The MiG-29K, meanwhile, has been <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/land/2017/08/04/indian-navy-wants-russian-mig-29k-jets-to-be-ruggedized/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a headache</a> for India. At least five of the 45 jets it has purchased have <a href="https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indian-navy-reports-crash-of-fifth-mig-29k-in-four-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crashed</a> in the last four years. A 2016 <a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/mig-29k-has-engine-failure-airframe-issues-cag-report-271853" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> by the Indian government said 40 of the 65 MiG-29K engines delivered to India had been withdrawn from service or rejected because of defects and deficiencies.<div type="image" title="Indian navy MiG-29 fighter jet aircraft carrier INS Vikrant" height="1331" width="2000" msid="98192322" hostid="261"></div>Like the rest of India's military, the Navy is dependent on Russia for major maintenance and support, including Russian technicians and spare parts, which may soon <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-business-india-europe-8c2974119783b455f68fdcca6a7b474f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">be in much shorter supply</a> given the toll the war in Ukraine <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/21/ukraine-russia-arms-business-weapons-exports-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has taken on Russia's defense industry</a>.That reliance is exactly what Atmanirbhar Bharat aims to undo. Although the LCA Navy was rejected, India still has plans for a domestically produced carrier-based fighter. That jet, the Twin-Engine Deck Based Fighter, or TEDBF, is <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/twin-engine-carrier-based-fighter-for-navy-could-be-inducted-by-2031-32/article66124792.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in the early stages</a> of development and is intended to replace India's MiG-29Ks around 2031.India is also looking to acquire 26 new carrier-borne aircraft from another country to use until the TEDBF arrives. The search narrowed to two models: the French-made Dassault Rafale M and the US-made Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.India's air force already operates the Rafale, leading to <a href="https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/01/india-rafale-m-beat-out-super-hornet-as-the-navys-favorite-for-carrier-operations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that the Rafale M will edge out the Super Hornet.

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