Does India really need supercarriers?

[WHITESMOKE]

At a time when Anti Ship missiles are getting more and more advance, Is it wise for India to go for bigger carriers. Rather smaller but more number of carriers can serve more effectively. Even USA will also go for smaller carriers in future. Here is some stuff from foreign policy:


In "Twilight of the $UPERfluous Carrier," Navy Captain Henry Hendrix and retired Marine Lt. Col. J. Noel Williams explain why the growing anti-ship missile threat makes it too risky for the Navy to continue to rely on a handful of large aircraft carriers to control the sea and project power ashore. Hendrix and Williams instead recommend distributing naval air power over a larger number of smaller carriers which would reduce risk and complicate an adversary's planning. The authors call for retaining the current fleet of large carriers but not building any more. The existing carriers would gradually phase out over the next 50 years. To replace them, the authors recommend expanding purchases of an amphibious assault ship currently being produced for the Marine Corps. This ship is an aircraft carrier about half the size of the Navy's largest carriers, but at one-third the cost.


What you guys think about it??

 

[NALANDA]

I think the technology to protect the AC from advance missile will also come into picture......and as it takes decades to deploy AC, we should have atleast three AC and work to have more in future.

AC's is to also dispaly power ..

 

[MilSpec]

We will need one , when we can build one ... thats the exact time frame..

 

[Ghoster]

It's better we change our priority from aircraft carriers to submarines...

Sea denial will be better for us rather than complete sea dominance...

 

[Break the Silence]

Well, the carriers, which are planned and under development will be of decent sizes. A super carrier needs more resources and maintenance and it could be a possibility As India is growing rapidlly, But more wise decision would be sticking to their current plans which fits into India strategy.

 

[zenglanmu]

India definitely needs a super carrier, cause China are planning to build a bigger carrier . Not to mention the Varyag is bigger than the Gorshkov which these two nation will soon to have.

 

[MilSpec]

We should not buy any carriers in future, All indian A/C Carriers should strictly be made in india

 

[WHITESMOKE]

I am not saying we don't need carriers rather we shouldn't go for very large ones as some Indian members often say here. Average size carriers are better option. And for subs, that's obviously much needed.

@zenglanmu: If china do something it doesn't mean India should do same. We have our own priorities and IN will go according to that.

 

[Laughing_soldier]

India needs one super carrier.

India definitely needs a super carrier, cause China are planning to build a bigger carrier . Not to mention the Varyag is bigger than the Gorshkov which these two nation will soon to have.

How many aircrafts Varyag carry? I guess both carries 26 aircrafts.

 

[praveen007]

nice thinking but u need to have a vision and need of that tipe of carriei fleat.
At this moment we are running low on CBG fleet requirment for support to 3 AC's, how we will support small CBG's as they also requires similar support machenisium.
First we have to increase our support ship manufacturing capacity (i.e - increse no. Of subs, distroyers, tankers, frigets, alvs ets) then we can talk of more CBG.

 

[jha]

Not at all...India does not need a Super carrier.. We already got one as Andaman...Flying Sukhois from there are enough to bring any enemy on its knees..

 

[tallboy123]

We want Nuclear submarine,Not Supercarriers...
just 3 are enough...No more aircraft carrier please

 

[WHITESMOKE]

Super carriers cost alot. even a normal carrier will cost $4bil at least if we start now and its easy to imagine how much costly will be the super carrier after 10-15 years ( there is no chance that India can make a super carrier before nxt 10-15 yrs) So better to make small/normal ones with sufficient supportive CBG.

 

[Abingdonboy]

India will and is getting Super carriers in the future. ACCs remain the most platforms for power projection and as a future super power are much needed.

 

[axisofevil]

This is a dead topic....expand our space, Missile and Sub capability. Allow them to make huge leaps by pumping vast resources into it. Think the bottom of the ocean is the least understood part of the planet. Any discoveries made here will translate to lucrative patents. Missiles are a defensive and offensive weapons and provide the teeth for any modern military. We should expand our programs and have a greater interaction with the chemical industry. As for the aircraft carriers I think we should have 4 AC's.....super size or regular doesn't really matter to me. I see the strategic use but there are more important issues that need to be looked at. Like someone stated....all future AC's should be built in India.....WE can do it! I think mandatory 2 year military training is a priority in India......if effectively planned and efficiently used, it can transform India quickly. Military training should not be just looked at with a narrow prism on defense but life skills should be included. My idea is too complex to finish but it would require capable instructors identifying the skills and qualities each person may have and thus nurture it effectively by placing them in that particular environment after one year physical and survival training which would include courses on unity and nationalism. We basically need to think out of the box and implement programs nobody has the guts or the vision to do so.