The Indian Navy’s operational capabilities depend heavily on airpower, which improves its capacity to carry out combat operations, project power, and perform maritime surveillance. The Indian Navy is now a more powerful maritime force as a result of the incorporation of air capabilities into naval operations.
Aircraft carriers are crucial for projecting force and are used as symbols of naval might. In order to strengthen its maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond, the Indian Navy maintains two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. The Navy is able to carry out long-term operations and effectively counter threats because to these carriers.
The Navy can retain control and surveillance over large marine areas because to the enhanced operational reach made possible by the use of airpower. UAVs and the P-8I Poseidon aircraft greatly improve reconnaissance capabilities, guaranteeing that any naval operation in the IOR is tracked.
Airpower’s anti-surface, anti-submarine, and aerial combat operations capabilities enable multi-dimensional warfare. The Navy’s strategic goals are supported by the MiG-29K fighters stationed on aircraft carriers, which are essential for combating enemy ships and planes.
The low number of aircraft that current aircraft carriers can deploy (about 36) limits their capacity to carry out offensive and defensive operations concurrently. This restriction is especially problematic during high-intensity conflicts where quick action is crucial.
The fleet of MiG-29K aircraft has experienced operational problems, such as high accident rates and low availability rates. The efficient use of airpower during crucial missions is hampered by these issues.
The Indian Navy has to update its air assets to be competitive. To address existing shortcomings, plans are in motion to upgrade unmanned aerial systems and purchase more fighter jets, such as the Dassault Rafale-M.
With continuous efforts to improve capabilities, the Indian Navy’s airpower appears to have a bright future:
In order to increase operational flexibility and effectiveness in a variety of maritime tasks, the Indian Navy is concentrating on growing its aviation fleet to include cutting-edge helicopters and unmanned systems.
India’s naval air capabilities are anticipated to be strengthened through technology transfer and joint exercise collaborations with other countries. Access to cutting-edge technologies that can improve operational readiness is made easier by the new agreements with the US.
More integrated operations between the services are anticipated as a result of the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the suggested Theatre Commands, which will maximize the use of airpower across all military branches.
To sum up, airpower is essential to the Indian Navy’s strategic goals since it allows it to effectively navigate a challenging maritime environment and counter new regional threats. Sustaining operational superiority in the IOR will require ongoing modernization and expansion initiatives.
