| History | |
|---|---|
 India | |
| Name | INSVishal |
| Status | Planned (design phase) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Vishal-classaircraft carrier |
| Displacement | 65,000 t (64,000long tons)[1][2] |
| Length | 300 m (984 ft 3 in)[1][3] |
| Speed | 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)[1][3] |
| Aircraft carried | 55 (35 fixed-wing and 20 rotary-wing)[1][4] |
INSVishal, known asIndigenous Aircraft Carrier 3 (IAC-III) until 2022, is a plannedaircraft carrier for theIndian Navy. It is intended to be the third aircraft carrier to be built inIndia afterINS Vikrant (IAC-1) and anotherVikrant-class aircraft carrier, provisionally called IAC-II.[5][6]
The existing plans to for a second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) followingINS Vikrant was first reveled in April 2011 by the thenChief of the Naval Staff,AdmiralNirmal Kumar Verma. However, such a project would not be taken up soon as there were other budgetary priorities for the Navy.[7]
The IAC-II, christened INSVishal, was first reported to have entered the design phase by August 2012. The aircraft carrier was expected to have a displacement of 65,000 tonnes and feature aCATOBAR system. The aircraft carrier would enter service in 2025.[2][8]
In February 2015, reports stated that the Indian Navy was accelerating the design and development of its second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-II), christened INSVishal, asINS Viraat (R22) was scheduled to be decommissioned within a year. The detailed study on the programme, which was underway, would decide the propulsion system of the ship. Nuclear propulsion was being considered as well. Additionally, the Navy had already decided to equip the carrier with aCATOBAR system, with the service having inquired for the EMALS developed byGeneral Atomics, featuring on theUS Navy'sGerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. The construction of the aircraft carrier will take 10–12 years and it could be commissioned as early as 2033.[9][10][11] Thirty Indian Navy admirals andcaptains were also briefed on the EMALS technology by General Atomics in as early as 2013. The briefing was conducted by Scott Forney III, the senior official of the firm.[12]
In May 2015, the then Navy chief,Robin K. Dhowan, considerednuclear propulsion as one of the options to power India's second aircraft carrier as the service sought approval to acquiresix nuclear-attack submarines.[13] On 13 May 2015, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) allotted₹30crore (equivalent to₹45 crore or US$5.4 million in 2023) for the initial construction planning process of INSVishal.[14][15]
On 17 July 2015, the Navy issued aLetter of Request to four foreign firms —Lockheed Martin,BAE Systems,DCNS, andRosoboronexport seeking assistance in designing IAC-II. The design specifications was informed in the letter. The Navy expects the vessel to have a displacement of 65,000 tonnes with a length of around 300 metres. It must have a speed in excess of 30 knots, though the propulsion type, whether nuclear or conventional (diesel or gas turbine), was not mentioned. While the letter confirmed the requirement of a CATOBAR system, EMALS was kept as optional. The responses were to be submitted within a deadline of 22 July and the proposal shall include the costing elements. A budget of $5 million had been assigned for the early design phase.[1][4]
Rear Admiral Surinder Ahuja, Assistant Controller of Carrier Project and head of the MoD-appointed study group, has been tasked with selecting the shipyard that will undertake the project. Indian public shipyards includingHindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL),Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE),Cochin Shipyard Limited andGoa Shipyard Limited (GSL) as well as private shipyardsLarsen & Toubro (L&T),Pipavav Shipyard, ABG Shipyard and Bharti Shipyard were invited to submit theirExpression of Interest to build the aircraft carrier. HSL was already willing to take up the project. The shipyards have been given a deadline of 21 July to submit their responses.[16][17][18]
TheUnited States-India JointWorking Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation was formed during the thenUS PresidentBarack Obama's state visit to India[19] in January 2015. The working group is meant to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of aircraft carriers. The countries have already discussed aboutEMALS under the framework of the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).[1] The working group met for the inaugural meeting on 12–14 August 2015. The Indian delegation was led by the thenFlag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command,Vice AdmiralSurinder Pal Singh Cheema. The delegation also visitedPCUGerald R. Ford which was then under construction atNewport News Shipbuilding,Virginia as well asU.S. Navy test site for carrier launch and recovery systems. The meet was co-chaired byUnited States Navy’sProgram Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers,Rear AdmiralThomas Moore, and India’s Controller for Warship Production and Acquisition, Vice AdmiralG. S. Pabby.[20][21][22]
As of February 2016, the construction of the carrier was expected to begin in 2020–21.[23]
In November 2016, aBusiness Standard report suggested that the Indian Navy had opted nuclear-propulsion for the aircraft carrier. The advanced technologies that were planned to be introduced into the carrier, including CATOBAR configuration, meant thatVishal's projected commissioning year could be pushed to 2030s. The choice was conveyed to the government where the final decision would be taken.[24][25][26] As of December 2016, the then Assistant Controller Carrier Projects (ACCP),Rear Admiral Surendra Ahuja, announced that the proposal for the IAC-II project had been forwarded to the government.[27]
By October 2017,Business Standard again reported that the nuclear propulsion for the aircraft carrier had been dropped and was to be conventionally powered. The proposal of the project was reportedly placed before the Services Capital Acquisition Categorisation Higher Committee, headed by theChief of Integrated Defence Staff. The project could be approved by the Defence Acquisition Council by the year-end. TheBhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had informed the Navy that it would take them 15–20 years to develop such a high-rated nuclear reactor, ideally with an output of 500 to 550 megawatts, for operations in the saline, maritime environment. The Navy had then chosen anIntegrated Full Electric Propulsion System (IFEP). However, the Navy planners had concluded that EMALS could be supported with IFEP system.[28][29] The cost of the aircraft carrier would be over $20 billion. The project could also be kept on hold until 2022 for these budgetary requirements which would eventually push the commissioning to 2040.[30]
In December 2018, the thenChief of the Naval Staff,AdmiralSunil Lanba, confirmed that the Indian Navy had chosen EMALS technology for the future aircraft carrier and acquisition for the system was being progressed with the Indian Ministry of Defence. India and the US were also reportedly finalising the terms for a government-to-government agreement. Additionally, the service had ruled out nuclear propulsion and had chosen for conventional, electric propulsion. The design of the ship was still on the drawing board and specifications were yet to be frozen.[31][32] The construction of the vessel could commence in three years. A three aircraft carrier-fleet had been proposed with the idea of two of them deployed at sea with the third remaining under maintenance.[33][34]
In April 2019, an Australian Defence Magazine reported thatUnited Kingdom-based BAE Systems had offered a design based on itsQueen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier for the IAC-II project. The company was in touch with the Indian Navy for the development of a Military Off the Shelf (MOTS) derivative of the Queen Elizabeth Class design to meet the service requirements. The design was reportedly compatible with eitherski-jump or catapult launch. Indian Navy officials had visited the firm'sshipyard at Rosyth, nearEdinburgh, where the second aircraft carrier of the class was under construction.[35][36][37] Later, British newspaperDaily Mirror reported on 5 May that the Navy could buy the carrier design.[38][39]Naval Group (formerly, DCNS) had offered a conventionally-powered (non-nuclear) variant of theCharles de Gaulle design.[36]
In April 2021, the Indian Navy, wanting to give preference tonuclear powered andconventional submarines in future sea-warfare, has decided that it will now begin planning the third aircraft carrier, INSVishal, as a replacement for the servingINS Vikramaditya.[40]
In December 2022, the then Navy Chief, AdmiralR. Hari Kumar, announced the Indian Navy could considering to place arepeat order for aVikrant-classaircraft carrier before proceeding withVishal. This was both due to budget constraints, satisfactory performance of newly commissionedINS Vikrant, expertise acquired byCochin Shipyard from the IAC-I and a quicker build time.[6] A study to determine the desired specifications and capabilities for the second indigenous aircraft carrier was still underway.[41] However, the Navy would continue to study about its requirement of a supercarrier.[3][42]
On 5 September 2025, the Ministry of Defence published theTechnology Perspective and Capability Roadmap 2025 (TPCR-25). As per the document, which reveals a 15-year roadmap for the Armed Forces, Indian Navy envisions to operate at least 10nuclear-propelled surface ships including an aircraft carrier with such propulsion.[43][44]
During the initial studies, the Indian Navy kept both convensional propulsion, which includes both diesel engine and gas turbine, as well asnuclear propulsion options to power India's second aircraft carrier.[13] As per reports on November 2016, Navy had opted nuclear propulsion for the aircraft carrier.[24][26] However, by October 2017, the force had to switch to anIntegrated Full Electric Propulsion System (IFEP) sinceBhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had informed the Navy that it would take them 15–20 years to develop such a high-rated nuclear reactor, ideally with an output of 500 to 550 megawatts, for operations in the saline, maritime environment.[28][29][30]
The Indian Navy confirmed its plans to operate anuclear-propelled aircraft carrier under the 15-year roadmap of the defence ministry, TPCR-25, released in September 2025.[43][44]
The Indian Navy has opted to equip the aircraft carrier with aCATOBAR configuration featuringelectromagnetic catapult technology.
In May 2013, the Navy had expressed its interest in theElectromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) developed by theGeneral Atomics for theUS Navy'sGerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. In fact, thirty admirals andcaptains of the Indian Navy were also briefed on the EMALS technology by General Atomics. The briefing was conducted by Scott Forney III, the senior official of the firm, along with permission of theUS Government. Equipping the carriers with the technology would also allow the operations of a wider range of aircraft including heavier fighter aircraft,AEW aircraft andUCAVs.[12][45][11]
In April 2015, USUnder Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment,Frank Kendall, stated that theObama administration was supportive of selling EMALS to India, amongst other technologies.[46] In October 2017, ahead ofUS Secretary of StateRex Tillerson's visit to India, theTrump administration had reportedly approved the release of technology for the EMALS forVishal.[47][48]
As per August 2024 media report,Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) has developed a scaled-downtechnology demonstrator, known as Electro-Magnetic Launch System (EMLS) capable of launching payloads up to 400 kilograms (880 lb) (equivalent to anunmanned aerial vehicle) over a shortspan of 16 to 18 metres (52 to 59 ft). The demonstrator is being further developed into a full-scale EMLS for application on future aircraft carriers.[49] Industry partners were reportedly being sought to develop the full-scale system to launch platforms weighing up to 40 tons can be handled by the system. Two crucial technologies including Pulse Power (which controls the electromagnetic catapult's power requirements and ensures precise and dependable launches) and Linear Electric Machine (which produces the electromagnetic force required to launch aircraft) were successfully developed.[50][51][52]
As per TPCR-25, the Navy is expected to procure two units of EMALS units along with three to four units ofarresting gears and restraining gears each for its future aircraft carrier.[43][44]
INSVishal is expected to operate acarrier air wing of 30–35 fixed-wing aircraft and 20 helicopters.[1][4]
When the aircraft carrier was initially conceptualised in 2012, the ship was expected to employ a carrier air wing consisting ofNaval Light Combat Aircraft, heavier fighter aircraft compared to in-serviceMiG-29K,AEW aircraft,mid-air refuelling aircraft as well asUCAVs. The UCAVs would be tasked for high-riskreconnaissance missions as well assuppression of enemy air defences (SEAD). Further, such pilotless aircraft would also have a mission endurance of 24–36 hours with mid-air refuelling. With the incorporation of electromagnetic catapults, a wide variety of aircraft will be able to operate from the ship.[2][8][12]HAL TEDBF, acarrier-borne fighter aircraft being developed in India, is also likely to be configured for CATOBAR operations whenVishal enters service.[53] In 2016,Dassault Aviation had also offered itsRafale M to the Indian Navy for its IAC-II.[23]