IMHO a 65k+ CATOBAR confgured ACC operating 30-40 Rafales/F-18 E/F with 1-2 E-2D would be well worth the wait. Yes ICA-1 has been delayed but lessons will be learnt and these delays are not necessarily transferable to future ACC construction projects. Just have to wait and see what IN decides to do- play it safe (another IAC-1 like ACC) or be bold (CATOBAR/65K).
mate, there are some reasons why i said that the IN should go for the design of IAC-1 only:
1. If i m not wrong, construction work on IAC-2 should have already started in 2010 (as per original schedule) & commissioned in 2017, now it's 2012 & we still don't know what will IAC-2 look like, also the original commissioning of IAC-2 of 2017 is now the commissioning date of IAC-1, that means IAC-2 is already 2 years late.
2. Now i think the construction work on IAC-2 will only start by 2014 as the IN finalizes the design & contract terms, cochin shipyard will take at least 10 years for it's construction (because of it's new & bigger design) that means we are looking at a commissioning date of 2024
3. We can make IAC-3 more bigger & better than the current design of IAC-1 & can take all the time in the world for it's construction but not with IAC-1 & 2, since they are the desperate needs of IN to fulfill it's dream of operating 3 CBG's & become a truly blue water navy, so it does not matter if IAC-2 is bigger or not (desperate needs calls for desperate measures).
4. More than the size & capability of AC, it is the perception that is more important, IN is always called a carrier navy, even if it means operating a 50 year old AC with limited air wing of just 10-12 aircrafts, the AC is more in refit than is at sea, so even if we operate 3 mid sized AC (but there capabilities is no doubt world class), it will be the no. that count not how bigger the ship is.
5. IN can always incorporate new technology as per needs in IAC-2 but the basic design should be the same as that of IAC-1, this will make the job of cochin shipyard easier with much less time of construction, It can also operate Rafales on it's deck (but ofcourse in limited nos.), so the difference b/w the 45k tonne to that of 65k tonne will be 10-15 less aircraft on the deck.
+ If we induct both IAC-1& 2 before 2020 (only possible when IAC-2 is of same design as IAC-1) than IN will always be having at least 3 CBG's in it's fleet even if it takes IAC-3 15 years for construction.