India, as a dynamic and ambitious power, has struggled to boost its maritime power. Recently, news about India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, has once again attracted public attention. The carrier was once seen as a source of pride for the Indian Navy, but the latest news suggests it may once again face delayed deliveries.
To meet the expectations of the Indian Navy, the shipyard's employees had to work continuously, not even on holidays. Long hours of overwork, combined with doubts about withholding overtime pay, eventually led to a massive strike. The strike not only affected the progress of the carrier's construction, but also put shipyards in a difficult position, as they could not reach a settlement with the striking workers.
However, even without this strike, it seems impossible to complete and deliver the Vikrant in a short period of time, given the current pace of construction of the Vikrant. This situation makes India's "dual aircraft carrier" strategic goal temporarily difficult to achieve.
At the same time, the Indian Navy's only aircraft carrier currently in service — the heavily modified INS Vikramaditya, purchased from Russia — often fails. Although India has invested heavily in the modification and maintenance of the aircraft carrier, the aircraft carrier still has frequent accidents, which also raises questions about the maintenance ability of the Indian Navy.
In sharp contrast, the mainland recently officially commissioned the domestic aircraft carrier - the Shandong. The delivery of this aircraft carrier has undoubtedly heightened India's sense of urgency, making them even more eager for the Vikrant to be delivered and put into service as soon as possible.
Some observers point out that even if India is eventually able to have two aircraft carriers, its true combat effectiveness is still unknown due to its shortcomings in maintenance and operational capabilities.
In summary, India's aircraft carrier program exposes the country's challenges in the construction and maintenance of large ships. At the same time, the mainland's aircraft carrier program has made steady progress, showing strong comprehensive national strength and technical capabilities. This contrast undoubtedly brings new changes and challenges to the pattern of maritime power in Asia.