India To Get Aircraft Carrier To Fly Rafale Jets

It can hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters…

The country is set to add more aircraft carriers to its fleet costing almost 400 billion rupees ($4.8 billion) as it seeks to counter China's naval presence in the Indian Ocean region, according to people concerned with the matter.

The Defense Acquisition Council – India's top defense decision-making body headed by Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh - is expected to clear the acquisition of its second indigenous carrier on Friday, people with direct knowledge of the development said, asking not to be named because the discussions are personal.

The new carrier can hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters and displaces 45,000 tons of water - a measure of size for ships, will be flying the French Rafale jets, sources said.

India's first homemade carrier, INS Vikrant, joined the fleet last year and was built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. The country also has a Russia-made aircraft carrier.

The Defense Acquisition Council - the country's top defense decision-making body headed by Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh - is expected to clear the acquisition of its second indigenous carrier on Friday, people with direct knowledge of the development said, asking not to be named because the discussions are private.

The new carrier can hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters and displaces 45,000 tons of water.

This is a measure of size for ships that will be flying the French Rafale jets, the sources said.

India's first homemade carrier, INS Vikrant, joined the fleet in the year 2022 and was built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. India also has a Russia-made aircraft carrier.