Limitations of Indian Aircraft Carriers: A Critical Review

... coercive tool for naval diplomacy and provide a decisive psychological advantage through its visible and continuous presence at sea. The Indian Navy (IN) has been operating aircraft carriers since 1961. Up to now, four carrier vessels have sailed under the Indian Navy flag. Currently two aircraft carriers, the INS Vikramaditya and the INS Vikrant, are part of the Indian naval fleet. With the exception of the recently commissioned and locally built INS Vikrant, all Indian aircraft carriers have been purchased from foreign sources as refurbished ...