NEW DELHI (Agencies): As India celebrated Diwali with the glow of earthen lamps, the Indian Navy marked a significant achievement by declaring the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant “fully operational.” This milestone elevates India to an elite group of nations capable of constructing and deploying aircraft carriers, joining the ranks of countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
The development means that India now has two operational aircraft carriers, with INS Vikramaditya, purchased from Russia, being the other. Commodore Anil Jai Singh (retired) emphasized the strategic significance, stating that having two fully operational Carrier Battle Groups enhances India’s operational capability and strengthens its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region.