Recently, India's domestic aircraft carrier ushered in an important sea trial, marking that the domestic aircraft carrier Vikrant is about to enter a new stage of development. This sea trial also witnessed the successful launch of India's stealth carrier-based aircraft, and what is remarkable is that this "stealth carrier-based aircraft" has performed well in stealth performance, which is almost imperceptible to the naked eye. This groundbreaking stealth technology is eye-catching, especially in the context of the widespread focus on reducing radar cross-sections in other countries, and India has opted for a unique stealth path.
India's domestically built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has successfully completed its fourth sea trial. Judging by the exposed pictures, almost all MiG-29K carrier-based aircraft and ALH helicopters were carried on board, and even firing training of naval guns was carried out. By Indian standards, the test program for the aircraft carrier has been largely completed and meets the requirements for service. Therefore, there is information that India may officially announce the entry of the domestic aircraft carrier Vikrant to the celebration of Independence Day. However, this decision seems to have been somewhat hasty, since the results of the tests were not disclosed by official India, despite the fact that the test program was completed. If something unexpected happens during testing, or if some system fails in a real-world application, a hasty implementation can have serious consequences.
Why is India so eager to serve the domestic aircraft carrier Vikrant? The reason for this is that India has always believed that it can rival or even surpass China. However, in the construction of domestic aircraft carriers, India has suffered a series of setbacks. China has successfully built the domestic aircraft carrier Shandong, and has even launched its second domestic aircraft carrier, the Fujian. India urgently needs to catch up, otherwise it will be at a disadvantage in international competition.
However, the construction of India's domestically built aircraft carrier Vikrant has been quite tortuous. Construction began in 2009, but due to various problems, this project has been interrupted several times and lasted for many years. Although India has accumulated experience in launching, there is still a gap compared to the speed and performance of China's aircraft carrier construction.
In terms of combat performance, China's aircraft carrier development has been at the forefront, including the Air Police-600 carrier-based early warning aircraft and the J-35 stealth carrier-based aircraft. These aircraft are being tested frequently and are ready to be put into real combat. India's domestically produced aircraft carrier Vikrant has only one steel frame in terms of stealth carrier-based aircraft, and these aircraft are still purchased, not independently developed. As a result, there is a noticeable gap between India and China in terms of combat performance and construction schedule.
In conclusion, although the commissioning plan of India's domestic aircraft carrier Vikrant may seem a bit hasty on the surface, India's sense of urgency and ambition is understandable. However, in practice, it still needs to face a series of challenges and competitors, especially China's aircraft carrier force. India must respond carefully to this competitive landscape while constantly improving its capabilities.