India’s mixed carrier fleet as a development path

Why is India pursuing carriers of different classes?

The navy is developing domestic carrier-building confidence while maintaining capability in a strategic competition, so common designs may come later.

The Indian Navy’s Russian-origin, indigenous, and future carrier designs form stages in a growing national industrial and naval capability. Each project lets Indian institutions accumulate experience in building, operating, and supporting increasingly ambitious ships. Greater commonality can follow once domestic construction has matured. Competition with China creates pressure to field capability before every design issue is perfected, so arriving first may temporarily matter more than standardising the fleet.