Having laid the keel of the first indigenous Air Defence Ship (ADS), the Indian Navy is now lobbying with the government to build two more aircraft carriers. It is understood the Navy is keen on three aircraft carriers to deploy one on each coast, sparing the third for regular refits at the dockyard.Listing several advantages of building three ships, the Navy has pointed out that by 2011, when the indigenous ADS is ready to take to the sea, it will have a large force of marine engineers with the knowledge to build aircraft carriers. South Block sources point out that while it is negotiating the Russian-built Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, it is at least four years away from being refitted and becoming operational. The Gorshkov will be replace the INS Viraat, India’s lone aircraft carrier — which is also expected to be decommissioned in a few years. In fact, the Indian Navy could be without an aircraft carrier till the Gorshkov is operational by the end of this decade.To avoid a similar scenario, the Navy has submitted a paper to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) seeking approval to build two more indigenous aircraft carriers. French company the Direction Des Constructions Naval will collaborate with the Indian shipyard in building the first ADS.The Navy has also pointed out the growth of the Chinese Navy in the region and its aspirations to build a carrier battle group which is expected to be operational by 2020. This has underlined the Navy’s need to have an aircraft carrier on the East Coast to guard the sea lanes of communication opening to South East Asia and the Far East. A similar group is envisioned on the West Coast to deal with threats from Pakistan.With the indigenous ADS costing Rs 5,000 crore, the Navy has suggested that funds be provided in a phased manner to offset a major burden to the exchequer. Once approved by the MoD, the final nod on building the carriers will come from the Cabinet Committee on Security.
