Naval Warships, Submarines & Fighter Jets
India's power projection is anchored by aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and modern multirole fighter aircraft. The Indian Navy operates two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya (modified Kiev-class commissioned in 2013) and INS Vikrant (IAC-1, India's first indigenously designed and constructed aircraft carrier, built by Cochin Shipyard and commissioned in September 2022). India completed its nuclear triad with the commissioning of INS Arihant in 2016, an indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) capable of launching K-15 Sagarika missiles. In aerial combat, the Indian Air Force operates the indigenously developed HAL Tejas (Light Combat Aircraft, a single-engine delta-wing multirole fighter) alongside French Dassault Rafale twin-engine multirole fighters equipped with Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles and SCALP cruise missiles, and the twin-engine Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority fighter.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- INS Vikrant (IAC-1), commissioned in September 2022, is India's first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier.
- INS Arihant is India's first indigenously developed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), completing India's nuclear triad.
- HAL Tejas is an indigenous single-engine, delta-wing multirole light fighter aircraft designed by ADA and manufactured by HAL.
- The Indian Air Force inducted 36 Dassault Rafale 4.5-generation fighter jets equipped with Meteor and SCALP missiles from France.
- Project 75 delivered six Scorpene-class diesel-electric attack submarines (Kalvari class) constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders.