Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:22:25-1:24:16

India operating six former Soviet carriers

Buying every Kiev- and Kuznetsov-class carrier would make India the world's second-largest carrier navy and transform regional planning.

Aircraft CarriersChinese NavyIndian NavyIndian OceanPakistan Navy
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Question

What if Russia sold India all Kiev- and Kuznetsov-class carriers?

Short answer

India would have six carriers and could probably keep three active. Pakistan would likely seek more Chinese submarines, while a Chinese construction response is not specified.

Notes

The scenario gives India four Kiev-class and two Kuznetsov-class ships, for six carriers in total. The work already invested in Admiral Gorshkov, later INS Vikramaditya, supports the expectation that India could turn them into useful ships. Six carriers could keep roughly three active in the Indian Ocean and make India second only to the United States in carrier numbers. Pakistan would probably respond to that force by purchasing submarines from China in bulk. A corresponding Chinese shipbuilding programme is not specified.