Keeping carrier groups available in both the eastern and western Indian Ocean leads to a proposed fleet of four carriers. A fifth would then allow an expeditionary deployment into another ocean. Training, support, and other programme costs would already be spread over the first four ships. Fifth and sixth hulls could therefore buy substantial extra capability for a smaller proportional increase in the whole programme's cost. The carriers would still need destroyers and the rest of a balanced fleet.
Notable Point · 2:40:59-2:42:24
Four Indian carriers for two coasts, and the value of a fifth
A four-carrier fleet is proposed to sustain groups in both halves of the Indian Ocean; a fifth would add an expeditionary option to an established support system.