IAC-2 Future Aircraft Carrier Project - News & Discussions

[Bon Plan]

If the French were involved, that makes the design more credible. Unfortunately, the offer comes from the mendacious Brits. Had the French made such an offer, I'm sure the MoD & the IN would've studied it closely.

Maybe it's already the case...
A rumor said that french and Indin can joined their efforts to built 3 ships : 2 for IN and one for FN.
Same design, maybe same main fighters, and some parts purchased or built in common (catapults, turbines, weapons, radars, propellers...)

 

[BMD]

Or like all Irish minus one.

Irish people don't complain anything like you.

 

[BMD]

Seems so. But I doubt how high this goes.

For the Indian requirement, they'd basically have a offer a design that's more in line with the original French-focused PA2 concept, rather than the QEC we see today:

At least officially, all indications so far are that we would want a conventional propulsion system. Not sure how that will pan out with regard to EMALS (high surge power needs), but anyway, it's a factor that would be favourable for anyone who wants to offer a conventional carrier design.

But honestly...I don't see takers for it in the IN. It's true that risk reduction is significant in going with a proven design that's already been built, but from what I can gather, the design for a future carrier is already well underway by the Navy's Design Bureau. Their capabilities of carrier design are already more or less established - the proof is floating outside Cochin Shipyard's building dock.

Adapting the QEC to the IN needs might actually be unnecessary effort at this point. Considering a design that is fully tailor made for IN's needs is already in the works domestically.

That French design is based on the QE hull.

 

[Bon Plan]

another source :
BAE Systems proposes its aircraft carrier design to Indian Navy

 

[Shajida Khan]

another source :
BAE Systems proposes its aircraft carrier design to Indian Navy

Its British. Thanks, but No Thanks.

 

[NKVD]

Its British. Thanks, but No Thanks.

Sorry But I am Fan of British Engineering Cheetah Is Work horse of IAF.And Vijayanta Was no Less Than Patton In Trained hands
British Officers Trained At Sandhurst are Much better Professionally Nurtured Than Yankees At West Point

 

[Gautam]

A rumor said that french and Indin can joined their efforts to built 3 ships : 2 for IN and one for FN.
Same design, maybe same main fighters, and some parts purchased or built in common (catapults, turbines, weapons, radars, propellers...)

How intriguing, please do elaborate on that.

 

[lcafanboy]

Maybe it's already the case...
A rumor said that french and Indin can joined their efforts to built 3 ships : 2 for IN and one for FN.
Same design, maybe same main fighters, and some parts purchased or built in common (catapults, turbines, weapons, radars, propellers...)

This can be attempted and a more logical, since French have designed a better carrier Charles de Gaulle, add nuclear power transmission with some TOT and indian Navy will definitely lap up....

 

[Gautam]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1113881649425424384

 

[vstol Jockey]

Trust Indian Navy Design Bureau, we have not taken anyother design from any nation after Leander class in early 70s. We are fully capable of designing aircraft carriers of our own.

 

[Gautam]

Well its official now : BAE Systems proposes its aircraft carrier design to Indian Navy

BAE Systems proposes its aircraft carrier design to Indian Navy
April 2019 News Navy Naval Maritime Defense IndustryPOSTED ON THURSDAY, 04 APRIL 2019 09:53

Writing in Australian Defense Magazine published on April 4, Nigel Pittaway quoted a representative of BAE Systems as saying the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier design was being offered to India. The HMS Queen Elizabeth is in service with the Royal Navy and is said to be the most powerful aircraft carrier after the US Navy's nuclear-powered carriers, the Indian newspaper The Week comments.

Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II taking off from HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)(Picture source: U.S. Navy, courtesy of the Royal Navy by LPhot Kyle Heller)
During the recent LIMA 2019 air show in Malaysia, Australian Defence Magazine reported BAE Systems had already held talks with the Indian Navy. BAE Systems is offering the Queen Elizabeth design for the Indian Navy's second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2) project expected to be larger and more capable than the IAC-1, which is currently built. IAC-1, which is expected to be named the INS Vikrant, will displace over 40,000 tonnes at full load and is slated to begin sea trials by early 2020.
The INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy's only in-service aircraft carrier, was a former Russian ship that was commissioned into service in 2013. Prior to the INS Vikramaditya, both of the Indian Navy's previous aircraft carriers — the Vikrant and Viraat — were ships that were formerly in service with the Royal Navy. Thus, the IAC-1 will be the first 'brand-new' aircraft carrier the Indian Navy will operate. The INS Vikramaditya uses a 'ski jump' to launch its MiG-29K fighters, without the assistance of a powered catapult The HMS Queen Elizabeth uses a ski-jump and is currently undergoing trials with Lockheed Martin F-35B short take-off and vertical landing jets.
IAC-2 is projected to be capable of using a catapult, which can launch aircraft at heavier weights than ships using ski jumps. Catapult launch enables an aircraft to carry more weapons and fuel, and have a longer range, offering greater performance.
The Queen Elizabeth-class is significantly larger than the Vikramaditya and the IAC-1, having a maximum displacement of over 65,000 tonnes. The carrier can deploy up to 40 F-35B Lightning II fighters. BAE Systems told Australian Defence Magazine that “the (Queen Elizabeth) design is adaptable to offer either ski-jump or catapult-launch and can be modified to meet Indian Navy and local industry requirements”. In an interview with The Week in December 2018, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba revealed “Capability assessment for building IAC-2, a Catobar carrier of 65,000 tonnes, has been undertaken. India can design and build it. The matter is under deliberation at the ministry for accord of acceptance of necessity (AoN).”
However, there have been few details on concrete timelines for the induction of IAC-2 or other details such as the nature of fighters it carries or the kind of propulsion system it will use. It had been earlier speculated the Indian Navy would consider nuclear propulsion for the IAC-2. The Indian Navy is planning to buy 57 fighter aircraft for its future aircraft carriers.
In July 2015, the Indian government had sent requests seeking proposals for the IAC-2 project to four companies: BAE Systems, France's DCNS (since renamed Naval Group), Lockheed Martin in the US and Russia's Rosoboronexport. Naval Group had then presented a derivative of the French Marine Nationale's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, but without nuclear propulsion, for the Indian Navy's requirement. In March 2019, the Royal Navy and Indian Navy formed a 'Carrier Capability Partnership', which aims to share “best practices” from the UK's aircraft carrier programme.

 

[Guynextdoor]

Maybe it's already the case...
A rumor said that french and Indin can joined their efforts to built 3 ships : 2 for IN and one for FN.
Same design, maybe same main fighters, and some parts purchased or built in common (catapults, turbines, weapons, radars, propellers...)

makes sense. Great cost reductions and efficiencies for both countries. Plus, french are among the few countries that can handle the horrible defence acquisition process in India.

 

[Austerlitz]

This whole project is a waste of money that will cost 10 -15 billion dollars(nuke power plus cost of 57 planes incl).
Better to get 10-12 top of the line diesel submarines instead of that.

 

[suryakiran]

This whole project is a waste of money that will cost 10 -15 billion dollars(nuke power plus cost of 57 planes incl).
Better to get 10-12 top of the line diesel submarines instead of that.

IMHO, subs will give us area denial capabilities. But, a CBG will give us area domination capabilities across sea, air and sub-surface and secure lines of trade.

 

[suryakiran]

Trust Indian Navy Design Bureau, we have not taken anyother design from any nation after Leander class in early 70s. We are fully capable of designing aircraft carriers of our own.

Agree completely with your view. But, would it not make more sense to collaborate and bring down our costs by sharing the same? This would enable us to speed up the acquisition. Be it the French or British.

 

[Austerlitz]

IMHO, subs will give us area denial capabilities. But, a CBG will give us area domination capabilities across sea, air and sub-surface and secure lines of trade.

We need sea denial capability against the chinese.For the Pakistanis we can defeat them even with 2 carriers,even without carriers.
24 submarines is weak against china,if 4 of those are non-combat SSBNs.
12-15 diesel subs are not good enough.Need 30 good diesel submarines.Much more important than 3rd carrier.We already have unsinkable carrier in andaman and south india.

 

[Himanshu]

India building copycat version of Britain's HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier

Talks are under way for its navy to buy detailed plans for the 65,000-ton warship and build a new version called INS Vishal in 2022.

An Indian delegation has already visited Rosyth dockyard in Scotland where HMS Queen Elizabeth was assembled and where a second supercarrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is now being built.

If a deal can be agreed, the new warship would be built in India but UK companies could supply many of the parts.

It would serve alongside India’s 45,000-ton carrier INS Vikramaditya – bought from Russia in 2004 – and the future 40,000-ton INS Vikrant, giving the nation a larger carrier fleet than Britain, its former colonial ruler.

The Indians want to use heavier aircraft than the F-35B short and vertical take-off jets now being tested on Queen Elizabeth, which would mean constructing different launch systems.

Defence Minister Stuart Andrew is staying tight-lipped about a possible deal. He said: “We have regular discussions with India on a range of equipment and capability issues. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The design for UK aircraft carriers is owned by the British and French aerospace giants BAE and Thales. A BAE spokeswoman said: “Discussion have begun with India. The design can be modified to meet Indian Navy and local industry requirements.”

The planned deal follows the sale of Falklands War carrier HMS Hermes to India in 1987. She was renamed INS Viraat and decommissioned two years ago.

However, the “Elizabeth Class” carriers have been dogged by controversy. The original bill for the two ships doubled to £6.2billion and there have been repeated claims that Britain would end up with carriers but no planes.

In fact the Queen Elizabeth is on track to launch F-35Bs, but to date it has carried mainly helicopters.

 

[Guynextdoor]

Every one knows that designs for the 65k INS Vishal had been taken to advanced stages including the final decision to not use a nuclear reactor and extensive evaluation of CATOBAR. If at this late stage they are looking at alternatives like the QE then it means only one thing. They’re ditching existing design and want to pick up an F 35 focused carrier design quickly. @vstol Jockey, @Milspec @Falcon . I didn’t think this failed program will be of use to anyone but looks like @BMD is hitting the mother load through pure luck

India, UK in talks to build Naval supercarrier under ‘Make in India’: Report

 

[randomradio]

Choosing the QE the way it is would pave the way for F-35B into the fleet. But I think the IN wants a CATOBAR in order to use other types of fixed wing aircraft, which would make it very hard for the F-35 to get in.

Anyway, LM has decided to not join the MRCBF contest. So that's that.

 

[Ashwin]

India building copycat version of Britain's HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier

Talks are under way for its navy to buy detailed plans for the 65,000-ton warship and build a new version called INS Vishal in 2022.

An Indian delegation has already visited Rosyth dockyard in Scotland where HMS Queen Elizabeth was assembled and where a second supercarrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is now being built.

If a deal can be agreed, the new warship would be built in India but UK companies could supply many of the parts.

It would serve alongside India’s 45,000-ton carrier INS Vikramaditya – bought from Russia in 2004 – and the future 40,000-ton INS Vikrant, giving the nation a larger carrier fleet than Britain, its former colonial ruler.

The Indians want to use heavier aircraft than the F-35B short and vertical take-off jets now being tested on Queen Elizabeth, which would mean constructing different launch systems.

Defence Minister Stuart Andrew is staying tight-lipped about a possible deal. He said: “We have regular discussions with India on a range of equipment and capability issues. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The design for UK aircraft carriers is owned by the British and French aerospace giants BAE and Thales. A BAE spokeswoman said: “Discussion have begun with India. The design can be modified to meet Indian Navy and local industry requirements.”

The planned deal follows the sale of Falklands War carrier HMS Hermes to India in 1987. She was renamed INS Viraat and decommissioned two years ago.

However, the “Elizabeth Class” carriers have been dogged by controversy. The original bill for the two ships doubled to £6.2billion and there have been repeated claims that Britain would end up with carriers but no planes.

In fact the Queen Elizabeth is on track to launch F-35Bs, but to date it has carried mainly helicopters.

British tabloids put ours to shame. Oddly PTI is quoting it!.