INS Vikrant is the first step towards India becoming an Indo-Pacific power

India has now acquired indigenous capability and capacity to build aircraft carriers, diesel- and nuclear-powered submarines and light combat aircraft. This capability and capacity cannot be left idle for lack of orders or sacrificed to exceptionally long manhours taken by defence public sector undertakings to build these hardware platforms.

With the induction of indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, India has fortified its expeditionary force capability in the Indo-Pacific and is projecting maritime dominance from its eastern and western seaboards. This is a first among many steps that India needs to take to counter the rising maritime threat from China and securing freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.

First step in this direction is to integrate the Indian military under one maritime theatre command under a Navy Admiral with dedicated support element from the Indian Army and Indian Air Force.